Zubeen Garg Death Case: Two Accused Withdraw Bail Applications, Court to Deliver Verdict on January 30
In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the death of renowned Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, two of the accused individuals withdrew their bail pleas during Thursday's court hearing. The Sessions Court in Guwahati, presided over by Judge G Baruah, was scheduled to hear bail petitions from five different accused persons in this high-profile case.
Court Proceedings and Withdrawal of Bail Applications
The court had fixed Thursday specifically for filing objections and conducting hearings on the pending bail petitions filed by Amritprava Mahanta, Nandeswar Borah, Paresh Baishya, Shyam Kanu Mahanta, and Sandipon Garg. However, during the proceedings, the legal counsels representing Shyamkanu Mahanta and Sandipon Garg formally requested the court to withdraw their bail applications.
Judge G Baruah subsequently dismissed the bail petitions of these two accused after their lawyers cited "certain developments and personal and legal reasons" for seeking withdrawal. Shyamkanu Mahanta, who organized the North East India Festival in Singapore in September last year, and Sandipon Garg, who is Zubeen Garg's cousin brother and an Assam Police officer, will now remain in custody as their bail applications have been formally withdrawn.
Objections Filed Against Remaining Bail Petitions
Special Public Prosecutor and senior advocate Ziaul Kamar, along with Zubeen Garg's wife Garima Saikia Garg, filed strong objections against the bail petitions of the three remaining accused: Amritprava Mahanta, Nandeswar Borah, and Paresh Baishya. Garima Saikia Garg submitted a detailed written objection to the court opposing the release of these individuals on bail.
The court has now reserved its judgment on these three pending bail applications and will deliver its final order on January 30, 2024. This decision will determine whether Amritprava Mahanta, Nandeswar Borah, and Paresh Baishya will be granted bail or remain in judicial custody as the investigation continues.
Background of Bail Applications and Charges
The bail petitions in this case have been filed at different times by various accused individuals. Shyamkanu Mahanta and the singer's Personal Security Officer (PSO) Nandeswar Borah filed their bail petitions on January 17. Meanwhile, Zubeen Garg's manager Siddharth and bandmate Shekhar have not yet submitted their bail applications to the court.
On January 3, Sandipon Garg and PSO Paresh Baishya filed their bail petitions through legal aid defense counsels. On the same day, Zubeen Garg's co-singer Amritprava Mahanta also moved her bail plea through her private legal counsel.
Charges Filed by Special Investigation Team
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) handling the case has filed serious charges against the accused individuals in their chargesheet. According to official documents, Mahanta, Sharma, Goswami, and Amritprava Mahanta have been charged with murder in connection with Zubeen Garg's death.
Sandipan Garg faces charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, while the singer's two Personal Security Officers (PSOs) have been charged with criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust. The latter charges specifically relate to allegations of misappropriating funds or property that had been entrusted to them.
Legal Team Appointed for Prosecution
Earlier in the investigation process, the state cabinet appointed a five-member team of special public prosecutors to handle this sensitive case. The team is headed by senior advocate Ziaul Kamar, with Brojendra Mohan Chaudhuri serving as additional public prosecutor. Kishor Dutta, Pranjal Dutta, and Vikash Jammar have been appointed as assistant public prosecutors to support the legal proceedings.
This experienced legal team is now actively pursuing the case against all accused individuals, with Thursday's hearing marking another important step in the judicial process surrounding the tragic death of the beloved Assamese singer.
