A fast-track court in Guwahati on Thursday rejected the bail plea of Shyamkanu Mahanta in connection with the death case of singer Zubeen Garg, ruling against his release after hearing detailed arguments from both sides and reserving its order earlier.
The Special Fast Track Court had heard the matter on April 22 and delivered its decision after examining submissions from the defence and prosecution in a case that has drawn sustained public attention.
Mahanta, an organiser of the North East India Festival, had moved the bail plea on April 10 following the conclusion of polling for the Assam Assembly elections. He has been in custody for over seven months.
During the hearings, the defence argued that Mahanta had cooperated with the investigation, posed no flight risk, and had already spent a considerable period in detention. Advocate Rajdeep Banerjee appeared via video link, while Pran Bora represented him in court.
The prosecution opposed the plea, raising questions over inconsistencies in Mahanta’s statements, particularly in relation to arrangements allegedly linked to alcohol for Garg. Special Public Prosecutor Ziaur Kamar submitted that while Mahanta had claimed he instructed that alcohol should not be served, material on record suggested he had earlier asked an individual in Singapore to arrange a bottle.
The prosecution further argued that the length of custody alone could not be grounds for granting bail, emphasising the seriousness of the allegations and the need for continued detention during trial proceedings.
Also read: Zubeen Garg case: Bail hearing ends, order reserved
After initial arguments, the court had deferred its order and fixed April 30 for pronouncement. The defence had also sought time to respond to the prosecution’s submissions during the course of hearings.
With the bail plea rejected, Mahanta will continue to remain in judicial custody as the case proceeds.
The death of Zubeen Garg had triggered widespread public reaction, leading to demands for a thorough investigation. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) subsequently conducted a probe and filed charges against several individuals, including Mahanta.
The case has since remained under close scrutiny, with proceedings in the fast-track court progressing amid continued public and legal interest.
In a related development, the court did not take up the bail application of co-accused Siddhartha Sharma, citing errors in the filing. His legal team has been asked to refile the plea.
Reacting to the court’s decision, Mahanta’s wife Anita Deka Mahanta maintained that he had been wrongly detained and said the family would continue to seek justice. She also stated that Mahanta had contributed to promoting Assam’s culture and that Zubeen Garg had supported the festival.
The fast-track sessions court hearing the matter was constituted on March 16 following directions from the Gauhati High Court, with support from the state government.
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