Five accused, including a festival organiser, a police officer, and associates, have been sent to 14-day judicial custody in the Zubeen Garg death case. The SIT continues probing the singer’s mysterious drowning and the alleged fake post-mortem report.
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Guwahati: In the ongoing investigation into the death of iconic Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, a local court in Guwahati has sent the five main accused to 14-day judicial custody after the end of their CID remand.
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Who Are the Accused?
The five individuals sent to custody are:
- Shyamkanu Mahanta — Organiser of the Northeast Festival
- Siddhartha Sharma — Mahanta’s manager
- Sandipan Garg — Police officer and cousin of the late singer
- Nandeswar Bora — Bodyguard
- Paresh Baishya — Bodyguard
According to official sources, the accused will be housed in the newly built district jail in Baksa, about 100 km from Guwahati. Authorities have expressed concerns about their safety, noting that some of Garg’s fans could be among the inmates or undertrials.
Court Directives and Legal Proceedings
Public Prosecutor Pradip Konwar confirmed that none of the accused filed for bail during the court proceedings.
“The court has sent them to judicial custody. No bail plea was moved on behalf of any of the five accused. As per the rule, legal aid will be given. The court has also instructed to ensure their safety and security in jail custody,”
said Konwar.
The court has also permitted that the accused be produced via video conferencing for future hearings to avoid potential law and order issues.
The case continues to be investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta. Two other suspects, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, Garg’s bandmate, and Amir Prabha Mahanta, a co-singer, remain in CID custody as their 14-day remand continues. They are expected to be produced before the court on October 17.
Gupta also revealed that a financial case has been filed against Amir Prabha Mahanta.
The Tragic Death
Zubeen Garg, one of the most beloved voices from the Northeast, tragically drowned during a yacht party in Singapore on September 19. The singer was reportedly swimming when the incident occurred.
Investigators have already recorded the statements of nine out of the 11 people who had accompanied him on the trip. Another individual is expected to return soon to assist with the probe.
In a striking revelation, SIT chief Munna Prasad Gupta questioned the authenticity of the post-mortem report from Singapore.
“The post-mortem report into Garg’s death is not genuine since it did not have the doctor’s signature. Without the doctor’s authentication, such a report cannot be considered valid,”
Gupta stated.