Guwahati: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the prosecution in singer Zubeen Garg’s death case to complete the examination of crucial witnesses within two months, while deferring the bail plea of accused event manager Shyamkanu Mahanta until October.
A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan asked the prosecution to be diligent in pursuing the trial and posted Mahanta’s bail plea for October 12.
“We want to see how the trial proceeds. This order will put pressure on them to move ahead with the matter,” the bench said.
Mahanta, who organised the event for which Garg travelled to Singapore, is among those accused in the case. Garg allegedly drowned in Singapore last year. The Gauhati High Court rejected Mahanta’s bail plea on May 29, following which he approached the Supreme Court.
Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia told the court that the trial was proceeding on a day-to-day basis and that crucial witnesses would be examined in the coming weeks. He said 11 key witnesses remained to be examined and that eyewitnesses from Singapore were expected to record their statements within the next fortnight.
Mahanta’s counsel, senior advocate Siddharth Dave, argued that his client was not present at the spot where Garg died. He said the case involved a drowning and pointed out that only 94 of the 394 witnesses listed had been examined.
Dave also argued that the prosecution was pursuing the case as an emotive issue because of the public outrage following Garg’s death.
The Supreme Court questioned the prosecution’s allegation against Mahanta, asking what motive an event manager would have to kill the singer.
Saikia, however, said the prosecution was pursuing a murder conspiracy case and that Mahanta’s role remained under investigation. He alleged that Mahanta had threatened to die by suicide if Garg refused to travel to Singapore for the event.
Saikia further alleged that Mahanta provided Garg with liquor and allowed him to attend a yacht party despite medical advice that the singer should stay away from water.
Garg’s death in Singapore triggered widespread outrage, with fans demanding an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his drowning.
Mahanta had earlier approached the Supreme Court seeking the transfer of the investigation from the Assam Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) to a central agency. He also sought a court-monitored probe.
The SIT has charged Mahanta with murder, criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, cheating and criminal breach of trust under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. A special court is conducting the trial.