Zubeen Garg death case: SC directs completion of witnesses’ exam within 2 months

The Supreme Court has directed the completion of the examination of key witnesses in singer Zubeen Garg's death case trial within two months. This order was issued after the court deferred the hearing on the bail plea of the event manager, Shyamkanu Mahanta, until October. The bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan expressed their desire to monitor the trial's progress, hoping it would prompt timely action.

Mahanta, who organized the event Garg attended in Singapore, where he allegedly drowned last year, moved the Supreme Court to transfer the inquiry from Assam Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) to a central agency. After the Gauhati High Court denied bail to Mahanta on May 29, he contested the decision in the Supreme Court.

The court noted the submissions of Assam advocate general Devajit Saikia, who stated that the trial is progressing day by day and crucial witnesses are being examined in the coming weeks. The bench posted Mahanta's bail plea for hearing on October 12. Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Mahanta, argued that his client was not present at the spot where Garg died, claiming it was a case of drowning. He also pointed out that only 94 of the 394 witnesses have been examined, mainly those in Singapore.

Dave added that the state is pursuing the case as an emotive issue, promising to punish those responsible for Garg's death. The court acknowledged a long list of witnesses and noted that 11 crucial witnesses remain to be examined. Saikia informed the bench that the case involves murder conspiracy, highlighting Mahanta's role in allegedly threatening Garg to attend the Singapore event by offering liquor and allowing him to go for a yacht party despite a doctor's advice against water exposure.

Garg's death led to widespread outrage among fans, who demanded a separate probe into the circumstances of his drowning. Mahanta had previously requested the Supreme Court to transfer the probe from the Assam Police's Special Investigation Team to a central agency. The SIT had charged Mahanta with murder, criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, cheating, and criminal breach of trust under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. A special court is currently handling the case.