Supreme Court Seeks Assam Government's Response on Shyamkanu Mahanta's Bail Plea

The Supreme Court is examining a bail application from Shyamkanu Mahanta, a key suspect in the death of cultural icon Zubeen Garg. Following the rejection of his bail by the Gauhati High Court, Mahanta's legal team argues against claims of flight risk. The court has requested the Assam government's response and will continue hearings at the end of July. Mahanta has been in custody for nearly nine months, maintaining his innocence and asserting that the death was accidental. This case has drawn significant attention due to its implications for Assam's cultural landscape.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 23, 2026, 14:03 IST

Supreme Court Hearing on Bail Application

File image of Shyamkanu Mahanta outside a local court (AT Image)

Guwahati, June 23: The Supreme Court has requested the Assam government's input regarding a bail application submitted by Shyamkanu Mahanta, who is a primary suspect in the case concerning the death of renowned Assamese artist Zubeen Garg.

Mahanta's appeal, which contests the Gauhati High Court's decision from May 29 that denied his bail request, was reviewed by a Bench led by Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi.

The Bench has issued a notice to the Assam government and scheduled the next hearing for late July.

During the proceedings, the Bench inquired whether Mahanta would be a flight risk if granted bail.

Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Mahanta, argued against the notion of flight risk, as reported by legal news outlets Live Law and Bar & Bench.

"The individual died due to drowning. There is no risk of fleeing. I lack financial resources, and my passport is already with the authorities," Dave stated in court, according to the reports.

Mahanta has been in custody for almost nine months and asserts that he has been wrongfully accused in this matter.

This latest development follows Mahanta's appeal to the Supreme Court after both a Fast-Track Court in Guwahati and the Gauhati High Court denied his bail requests.

He was taken into custody on October 1, 2025, and has been held in judicial custody since that date.

The charges against him include criminal conspiracy, murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, destruction of evidence, extortion, cheating, and criminal breach of trust, as outlined in the chargesheet.

In his bail application to the Gauhati High Court, Mahanta refuted the allegations, claiming that Garg's death was an accidental drowning.

He also disputed the assertion that he posed a flight risk, emphasizing that his passport and travel documents had been confiscated.

However, the Gauhati High Court dismissed his plea on May 29, stating that the evidence gathered during the investigation suggested his involvement in the alleged conspiracy.

The court further noted that the possibility of Mahanta fleeing or influencing witnesses could not be dismissed at that point.

Previously, the Fast Track Court in Guwahati had also denied him bail, citing the serious nature of the allegations and the critical phase of the investigation.

With inputs from agencies