The Gauhati High Court on Friday denied bail to festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta in the high-profile death investigation of Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg. The court accepted the prosecution’s arguments regarding possible evidence tampering, witness influence, and flight risk, allowing the Assam CID probe to continue.
Quick Glance
- Gauhati High Court rejected Shyamkanu Mahanta’s bail plea on Friday.
- Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia cited seven major grounds against bail.
- Assam CID recovered deleted mobile data during the investigation.
- The case continues to trigger massive public reaction under the “Justice for Zubeen Garg” campaign.
Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court has denied bail to Shyamkanu Mahanta, one of the main accused in the ongoing investigation into the death of celebrated Assamese singer Zubeen Garg. The decision came after the prosecution strongly opposed the plea and highlighted concerns related to the integrity of the investigation.
The case has remained under intense public scrutiny across Assam and the wider North East region. It has also generated heated discussions on social media platforms since the singer’s death last year.
Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia informed reporters after the hearing that the prosecution placed seven important points before the court. According to him, the court carefully considered every submission before rejecting the bail application.
Earlier, a Fast Track Court had also dismissed Mahanta’s request for bail in the same case.
Prosecution Raises Concerns Over Evidence Tampering
During the hearing, the prosecution argued that granting bail to Mahanta could negatively affect the ongoing investigation. Advocate General Saikia claimed investigators successfully recovered deleted information from Mahanta’s mobile phone.
Officials believe the recovered digital evidence may become crucial during the trial process.
The prosecution further alleged that Mahanta had prepared dictated notes for singer and band member Amritprabha Mahanta. Investigators suspect the notes were intended to influence statements related to the case.
According to the prosecution, such developments raised serious concerns regarding witness manipulation and possible interference in the investigation.
The court also heard arguments that Mahanta could abscond if released on bail. After reviewing the submissions, the High Court decided to keep him in custody while the investigation proceeds.
Amritprabha Mahanta Remains in Judicial Custody
Singer Amritprabha Mahanta, who had travelled to Singapore alongside Zubeen Garg before the incident, continues to remain in jail over her alleged involvement in the case.
Investigators are examining the sequence of events that took place before Garg’s death near Lazarus Island in Singapore on September 19 last year.
The incident occurred just one day before the Assamese music legend was scheduled to perform at an event organised under the North East International Festival (NEIF) banner.
The sudden death of the singer shocked fans across Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and other parts of the North East.
Assam CID Filed Chargesheet Against Seven Accused
Following the incident, the Assam Police CID constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a detailed probe into the matter.
After months of investigation, the SIT submitted a chargesheet in December naming seven accused individuals, including Shyamkanu Mahanta.
Out of the seven accused, four have been charged with murder, significantly increasing the seriousness of the case.
Himanta Biswa Sarma Called It a “Murder”
Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly described the case as a “plain and simple murder” during discussions inside the Assam Legislative Assembly.
His remarks reflected the Assam government’s tough stance regarding the investigation.
At the same time, the Singapore Police conducted a separate inquiry into the matter. Their investigation reportedly concluded that there was no evidence of foul play in Zubeen Garg’s death.
Despite the differing findings, Assam authorities have maintained that the foreign investigation will not affect the ongoing legal process in India.
Officials said the Assam CID investigation will continue independently based on available evidence and witness testimonies.
Public Demand for Justice Continues
The death investigation of Zubeen Garg remains one of the most discussed criminal cases in Assam in recent years.
The hashtag campaign “Justice for Zubeen Garg” continues to trend on social media platforms. Many fans and civil society groups have demanded strict punishment for those found guilty.
The case has also drawn political attention due to the singer’s immense popularity across the North East.
As legal proceedings continue, public interest in the case remains extremely high.
People Also Ask (FAQ)
Why did the Gauhati High Court reject Shyamkanu Mahanta’s bail plea?
The court rejected the bail plea after the prosecution raised concerns about possible evidence tampering, witness influence, and the risk of the accused absconding.
What role does Assam CID play in the Zubeen Garg death case?
The Assam CID formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the singer’s death and later filed a chargesheet against seven accused persons.
Where did Zubeen Garg die?
Zubeen Garg died near Lazarus Island in Singapore on September 19 last year during a swimming incident.