Supreme Court Delays Bail Hearing for Key Accused in Zubeen Garg Case
Bail Plea Deferred
A file image of fans gathered around Zubeen Garg's mortal remains in Guwahati. (AT Photo)
Guwahati, Aug 17: On Monday, the Supreme Court postponed the bail application of Shyamkanu Mahanta, a primary suspect in the case related to the demise of Assam’s beloved cultural figure Zubeen Garg, scheduling the next hearing for October 5.
A panel comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan reviewed the arguments presented in Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No. 11523/2026 and instructed the Assam government to expedite the trial process.
The court stressed the importance of a swift trial, with Justice Nagarathna noting that the court is urging the state to ensure timely progress and will reassess the situation during the next hearing.
“The prosecution must be proactive in this case,” the court mandated.
Advocate General Devajit Saikia, representing the Assam government, informed the Bench that the trial is being conducted daily, with significant witnesses expected to testify in the upcoming weeks.
As of August 14, the state reported that 94 out of 394 witnesses had provided their statements.
The prosecution also indicated that key witnesses located in Singapore had already given their statements to the investigating officer, with their testimonies anticipated in the next two to three weeks.
The court has set Mahanta’s bail request for further consideration on October 5.
Defense Claims Drowning Was Accidental
Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Mahanta, contended that Garg had willingly entered the sea and that Mahanta was not present at the scene during the incident.
Dave highlighted that only 94 of the 394 witnesses had been examined thus far and argued that multiple FIRs had been consolidated in this case, as reported by a legal news outlet.
He also mentioned that Singaporean authorities, after conducting a post-mortem, determined that Garg's death was due to drowning. “There was no murder,” Dave reportedly stated.
Additionally, he challenged the prosecution's claims of a conspiracy involving Mahanta, which included allegations that he had neglected Garg or provided him with alcohol prior to the incident.
During the proceedings, Justice Nagarathna questioned the alleged motive behind Mahanta's actions, asking what incentive he would have to harm Garg, given their long-standing collaboration in organizing festivals in the Northeast.
State Accuses Mahanta of Conspiracy
Conversely, the Assam government asserted that Garg’s death was not accidental. Saikia accused Mahanta of arranging for women and supplying alcohol to Garg before the incident.
He further alleged that Mahanta had coerced Garg into traveling to Singapore by threatening to commit suicide if the artist refused. “There is a conspiracy at play,” Saikia claimed.
With the bail application postponed and no temporary relief granted, Mahanta will remain in judicial custody.
His bail request had previously been denied by both the trial court and the Gauhati High Court, prompting him to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Zubeen’s Sister Raises Concerns
On the day of the hearing, Pami Borthakur, Garg’s sister, took to social media to express her concerns regarding how the accused were financing their legal defenses despite their bank accounts reportedly being frozen.
“Serious accused individuals like Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddhartha Sharma have approached the Supreme Court and are actively pursuing hearings on their petitions. Even with their bank accounts frozen, it raises questions. Who is providing them with legal and financial assistance? What forces are supporting them?” she stated in her post.