In a significant development, all seven individuals accused in the death case of renowned singer Zubeen Garg were virtually presented before the District Sessions Court in Guwahati's Kamrup (Metro) district on Monday. This hearing marked the first proceeding since the case was transferred to the lower court.
Court Sets Date for Framing of Charges
The court has officially scheduled January 3 for the crucial stage of framing charges against the accused. This step is a mandatory legal precursor before the actual trial can begin. The case was committed to the District Sessions Court by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Kamrup (Metro) on December 16. This transfer was mandated under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, as the case involves serious charges of murder.
Breakdown of Accused and Charges
The seven accused face a range of serious charges. Four individuals have been charged with murder. This group includes prominent figures such as Shyamkanu Mahanta, the organizer of the North East India Festival in Singapore, Zubeen Garg's manager Siddharth Sharma, drummer Shekharjyoti Goswami, and co-singer Amritprava Mahanta.
The remaining three accused are facing charges of criminal breach of trust and culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The trial is expected to be extensive, with the court likely to examine a staggering total of 394 witnesses to establish the facts of the case.
Legal Representation and Next Steps
During Monday's hearing, advocate Gabriel Sahu appeared for accused Amritprava Mahanta. He stated that it is the fundamental right of every individual to defend themselves before the court, which prompted his representation. Interestingly, the case initially saw no lawyers coming forward for the accused. Following the CJM court's direction on December 16, advocate Dhrubajyoti Das from the District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) was appointed to represent all the accused until they could arrange for their own counsel.
The judicial process will move forward systematically. Once the charges are formally framed on January 3, the stage will be set for the commencement of the full trial, which will seek to deliver justice in this high-profile case that has gripped the region.
