Guwahati: The Supreme Court on Monday, October 5, heard the bail plea of Shyamkanu Mahanta, an accused in the case concerning the death of Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg in Singapore, and listed the matter for further hearing in the first week of November.
Mahanta is currently lodged in Baksa jail along with five other accused in the case. He was arrested in October 2025, a month after Garg died in Singapore in September 2025.
During the hearing, the Assam government apprised the Supreme Court of the progress of the trial, stating that the examination of witnesses was underway. The state informed the court that statements of 94 out of the 394 witnesses had been recorded as of August 14.
The government further submitted that several key witnesses based in Singapore were yet to be examined, with their statements expected to be recorded soon.
The Supreme Court had previously directed the state to ensure that the trial proceeds without unnecessary delay. The progress of the proceedings has also been considered while hearing Mahanta’s bail plea.
Mahanta, who was associated with the organisation of the North East India Festival in Singapore, is among the accused in the case linked to Garg’s death. A fast-track court in Assam has framed murder charges against four accused, including Mahanta.
Garg died in Singapore in September 2025. His death subsequently led to a criminal investigation in Assam, followed by legal proceedings against several individuals in connection with the case.