Zubeen Garg Case: Concerns Over Delays and Legal Strategies Raised by Wife
Court Proceedings Update
Guwahati, Jan 3: The latest hearing regarding the death of renowned cultural figure Zubeen Garg took place on Saturday, with his wife, Garima Saikia Garg, attending to monitor the developments closely.
After the session, Garima voiced her worries about the ongoing delays, emphasizing that continuous postponements could extend the judicial process significantly.
“If the case continues to receive new dates every two weeks, it could take years to reach a conclusion. With 396 witnesses, their testimonies alone will require a substantial amount of time,” she remarked.
Garima also expressed her unease regarding the defense's legal tactics, noting a lack of remorse observed during the proceedings.
“The accused are adopting a very aggressive approach by hiring lawyers from outside the state. We urge the government to respond with a robust prosecution team comprising senior advocates and specialists. Otherwise, achieving a satisfactory outcome will be challenging,” she stated.
In addition, Garima has engaged a lawyer to support her in the case and raised concerns about potential shortcomings in the chargesheet preparation, calling for accountability.
On the same day, the two main accused, Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddharth Sharma, secured legal representation, while Sandeepan Garg and Paresh Baishya are being defended by legal aid counsel.
Senior advocate Anand Kumar Bhuyan represented Amritprabha Mahanta and submitted a bail application.
During the hearing, the court expressed disapproval of the distribution of uncertified chargesheet copies on social media, stating that such actions are illegal.
It was highlighted that previously, Akhil Gogoi and others had circulated uncertified versions of the document. Following a complaint, the court has mandated an inquiry into how these copies were accessed and disseminated, scheduling a separate hearing for this matter.
The initial hearing of this high-profile case occurred on December 16, followed by the second on December 22.
Previously, the Bar Association had indicated that no lawyer would represent the seven accused, complicating the proceedings further.
On Friday, Garima held her first official press conference since Garg’s passing, announcing the establishment of the Zubeen Garg Trust. She mentioned that the trust would be based at the late singer’s residence in Kharghuli, focusing on social and cultural projects.