Guwahati: After two days of arguments, a fast-track court on Thursday, April 30, rejected the bail plea of Shyamkanu Mahanta in connection with singer Zubeen Garg’s death case, meaning he will remain in custody.
The Special Fast Track court in Guwahati had heard the matter on April 22, with the prosecution strongly opposing his release. Mahanta, an organiser of the North East India Festival, had moved the bail plea on April 10 after polling for the Assam Assembly elections concluded.
During hearings held last week, Mahanta’s lawyers sought his release, while the court repeatedly examined the case due to its high public attention. After hearing both sides, the judge reserved the order and fixed April 30 for the verdict.
The court, on April 23, had indicated that the decision would be delivered on this date, with arguments from Mahanta’s lawyers, Pran Bora and Rajdeep Banerjee, completed after multiple hearings.
The defence argued that Mahanta has cooperated with the investigation, is not a flight risk, and has already spent over seven months in custody. Banerjee appeared via video link, while Bora represented him in court.
Opposing the plea, Special Public Prosecutor Ziaur Kamar pointed to inconsistencies in Mahanta’s statements, particularly regarding arrangements linked to alcohol for Garg. He said that despite Mahanta’s claim that alcohol should not be served, evidence suggested he had earlier asked a person in Singapore to arrange a bottle.
The prosecution also argued that the duration of custody alone cannot be grounds for bail. After the defence sought time to respond, the court adjourned the hearing to the next day before issuing its order.
Zubeen Garg’s death had triggered strong public reaction, leading to demands for a detailed probe. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) later filed charges against several individuals, including Mahanta, and the case has remained under close public scrutiny.
A separate bail plea filed by co-accused Siddharth Sharma is being corrected after earlier issues in the affidavit. The prosecution has submitted written objections opposing bail for both accused.
Meanwhile, Mahanta’s wife Anita Deka Mahanta said he has been wrongly detained and the family is seeking justice. She added that he worked to promote Assam’s culture and that Zubeen Garg had supported the festival.
The Gauhati High Court had earlier set up a dedicated fast-track sessions court on March 16 with support from the state government.