Guwahati: In a significant development in the widely discussed case related to the death of artist Zubeen Garg, a special fast-track court in Assam on Thursday rejected the bail application of one of the prime accused, Shyamkanu Mahanta. The court clearly observed that there is a “likelihood of the accused absconding,” and therefore granting bail at this stage would not be justified.
Special fast-track court judge Sharmila Bhuyan delivered the order after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defense in detail. Speaking to the media after the court’s decision, Public Prosecutor Ziaur Kamar stated that the court took serious note of Mahanta’s conduct following the incident, describing it as suspicious and irresponsible.
He further added that instead of helping Zubeen Garg after the incident, Mahanta had fled abroad and had to be brought back only after a lookout notice was issued. This, according to the prosecution, strengthened the court’s concern that the accused might abscond again if released on bail. The prosecution also argued during the hearing that the accused had prior knowledge of the incident and was allegedly involved in certain crucial activities, evidence of which has been collected and submitted before the court by the investigating agency.
Additionally, the court rejected a Zimma Petition application filed by Mahanta’s wife. The court stated that the seized SIM cards and mobile messages are crucial primary evidence in the case, and handing them over to any third party could lead to tampering or destruction of evidence. Hence, the application was denied.
It is noteworthy that a day earlier, the court had ordered the freezing of several bank accounts linked to another key accused, Siddhartha Sharma. According to submissions made in court, more than ₹1 crore was suspected to be present in Sharma’s bank accounts. However, as he failed to provide a clear explanation regarding the source of these funds, the court upheld the order to freeze the accounts.The court also directed the freezing of multiple accounts associated with Sharma’s business associates and individuals with whom he had financial transactions. As per the court’s directive, both Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddhartha Sharma have been asked to submit their written arguments by May 2. On the same day, the court is expected to deliver its order on Siddhartha Sharma’s bail plea. The court also noted that the process of framing charges in the case has already been completed.
Following the court’s order, Zubeen Garg’s wife Garima Saikia Garg expressed her reaction on social media, stating that she has full faith in God, the country’s judicial system, and the prayers and support of the people. In an emotional note, she wrote, “You will see for yourself, Goldie… and may such a pure and simple soul never face such injustice again.” Zubeen’s sister, Palmi Borthakur, also thanked everyone for their support after the verdict.It may be mentioned that the case initially surfaced as a suspicious death but was later investigated as a murder. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier described the incident as a “murder,” following which the case was taken up with greater seriousness.The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Assam Police’s CID has completed the investigation and submitted a charge sheet in court, naming a total of seven accused and bringing murder charges against several of them.At present, apart from Shyamkanu Mahanta, the accused lodged in jail include Siddhartha Sharma, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, Amrit Prabha Mahanta, Sandeepan Garg, Nandeshwar Bora, and Paresh Baishya. The case continues to draw widespread attention and concern across the state, and the upcoming hearing on May 2 is expected to play a crucial role in determining its future course.
