The Kamrup Metropolitan District and Sessions Court ordered de-freezing of an accused’s bank account in the Zubeen Garg death case citing technical lapses, and fixed March 19 for charge hearing. It also rejected another accused’s plea seeking a Singapore Police report.
GUWAHATI: A court in has ordered the de-freezing of the bank account of an accused in the Zubeen Garg death case due to “technical lapses,” while scheduling a charge hearing for March 19, according to the special public prosecutor (SPP) involved in the case.
The Kamrup Metropolitan District and Sessions Court, which is overseeing the matter, also denied a petition from another accused seeking a report from the Singapore Police, the SPP stated.
SPP Ziaul Kamar informed reporters,
“The honourable court has set March 19 for consideration of charge hearing. After that, the trial will begin.”
He emphasized that the prosecution is prepared for the hearing, but noted,
“I don’t know what the accused will do, what petition they may file.”
Kamar added that he had previously accused the defendants of employing delaying tactics with various petitions.
The court’s decision to de-freeze the bank account of accused Shyamkanu Mahanta was based on “technical reasons.” Garima Saikia Garg, the wife of the late singer, and Palme Barthakur, his sister, expressed their “disappointment” regarding the de-freezing of Mahanta’s account.
She remarked,
“It is bad news for us. It was ordered due to some procedural lapse and technical issue,”
Kamar further stated that the court had dismissed Siddharth Sharma’s petition requesting a copy of the Singapore Police report related to Garg’s case.
He explained,
“The court said that the Assam Police has already acquired all the details, which can be accessed by the accused for further examination on March 10 to 12, from 2 pm to 4 pm.”
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Regarding Sharma’s request for the de-attachment of his flat in Guwahati, Kamar mentioned that the court ruled it could be released if Sharma provides a bank surety of Rs 16 lakh to the police. Sharma, who served as Garg’s manager, is accused of misappropriating Rs 16 lakh while acquiring the flat.
A separate case linked to Mahabir Aqua, a packaged drinking water company co-owned by Sharma, will also be addressed by the same court on March 19, Kamar noted.
When asked about the establishment of a fast-track court to expedite the case, the SPP indicated that it remains a matter between the government and the Gauhati High Court. He asserted that such a court would indeed speed up the hearing process, although he acknowledged, “legal procedures cannot be curtailed.”
Kamar also added,
“The accused also have their rights. They might file petitions (before the fast-track court), we might also have to file petitions.”
Garima expressed hope that the fast-track court would hasten the proceedings, but she was unaware of the current status regarding it.
Zubeen Garg tragically passed away on September 19 last year while swimming in the sea in Singapore, where he was attending the 4th edition of the North East India Festival (NEIF). A Special Investigation Team (SIT) from the state police’s CID investigated the case and submitted a charge sheet in December, which included murder charges against some of the defendants.
In addition to NEIF chief organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta and Sharma, other accused in the case include Garg’s band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta, his cousin and now-suspended Assam Police DSP Sandipan Garg, and his personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya.
The state cabinet had previously appointed a five-member team of Special Public Prosecutors (PP), with senior advocate Ziaul Kamar leading the team. Brojendra Mohan Chaudhuri was named as an additional PP, with Kishor Dutta, Pranjal Dutta, and Vikash Jammar serving as assistant PPs.
A Coroner’s Court in Singapore ruled out any foul play in Garg’s death, determining that the renowned singer-songwriter was severely intoxicated and drowned off Lazarus Island after refusing a life jacket.
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