GUWAHATI – In a significant turn of events in the investigation into the death of legendary Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, two of the key accused—Shyamkanu Mahanta and Sandipan Garg—withdrew their bail petitions before the Kamrup Sessions Judge’s Court on Thursday.
The duo was among five accused who had approached the court seeking relief, citing their cooperation with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the advanced stage of the probe. However, their legal counsel moved to withdraw the pleas just before the scheduled hearing.
Key Legal Developments
Following the withdrawal, the court proceeded to hear the bail applications of the remaining three accused:
- Amritprabha Mahanta
- Paresh Baishya
- Nandeswar Bora
The court has reserved its order on these three applications until January 30.
Zubeen Garg’s wife, Garima Garg, and his sister, Pami Borthakur, were present during the proceedings and expressed their confidence in the prosecution’s handling of the high-profile case.
The SIT Charge Sheet
The Assam Police SIT recently filed an extensive charge sheet detailing the alleged roles of those involved in the events preceding the singer’s death in Singapore:
- Murder Charges: Manager Siddhartha Sharma and bandmate Shekharjyoti Goswami.
- Culpable Homicide: Suspended Assam Police officer Sandipan Garg (Zubeen’s cousin).
- Evidence: The prosecution is relying on forensic reports, witness testimonies, and electronic records, including correspondence with international authorities.
The Singapore Connection
The defense has heavily leaned on findings from the Singapore Police and the ongoing Coroner’s Inquiry in the island nation. Recent submissions in Singapore suggested:
- No Foul Play: Singapore authorities have stated the death was due to accidental drowning.
- Intoxication: Reports indicated the singer was severely intoxicated (blood alcohol level of 333 mg/100ml) and had declined a life jacket before entering the water off Lazarus Island.
- Medical History: The inquiry noted Garg’s history of epilepsy and hypertension, though it remained inconclusive if a seizure occurred prior to his drowning.
Despite the “no foul play” stance from Singapore, the Assam SIT maintains a different theory involving premeditated financial motives, alleging that funds were siphoned from the singer’s accounts.
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