Guwahati: Garima Saikia Garg, wife of popular Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, along with Public Prosecutor Ziaul Kamar, on Monday expressed concern over delays in the trial at the Kamrup Metropolitan District and Sessions Court.
The judicial proceedings have been delayed as the accused continue to file numerous petitions, and the trial has not started.
Garg passed away on September 19 last year while swimming in Singapore, where he was attending the 4th North East India Festival (NEIF). The Assam government has treated the case as a murder investigation, arresting seven individuals in connection with his death.
Kamar told reporters, “The regular hearings have not started. The accused are employing tactics to delay the process by filing repeated petitions.” He added that the trial can only move forward once these petitions are addressed.
Garima Saikia Garg also expressed disappointment and urged the government to set up a fast track court. “The proceedings are being unnecessarily delayed. We have requested a fast track court for day-to-day hearings, but it hasn’t been established yet. I appeal to the authorities to act on this,” she said.
Those in custody include NEIF organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma, band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta, his cousin and Assam Police DSP Sandipan Garg, and personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya.
Shyamkanu Mahanta is the younger brother of former Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, who also served as Chief Information Commissioner of the Assam State Information Commission. Another elder brother, Gauhati University Vice-Chancellor Nani Gopal Mahanta, previously advised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on education matters.
Several petitions have been filed by the accused. Shyamkanu Mahanta has sought to unfreeze his bank accounts, Siddharth Sharma requested access to Singapore’s Coroner Court proceedings and discharge from certain sections, and Shekhar Jyoti Goswami made a similar plea for relief from specific charges.
Authorities in Singapore’s Coroner Court have concluded that Zubeen Garg’s death was accidental, noting that the singer had consumed a large amount of alcohol and drowned near Lazarus Island after refusing to wear a life vest.
The court has scheduled the next session for March 2.
In Assam, the state cabinet had earlier designated a team of five Special Public Prosecutors to manage the case, with senior advocate Ziaul Kamar leading.
Brojendra Mohan Chaudhuri was appointed as an additional prosecutor, while Kishor Dutta, Pranjal Dutta, and Vikash Jammar were included as assistant prosecutors.