The Gauhati High Court has granted bail to singer Amrit Prabha Mahanta, who is one of the individuals accused in the case concerning the death of singer-songwriter Zubeen Garg. This decision was announced on Friday by Special Public Prosecutor Ziaul Kamar.

The bail was approved by Justice Pranjal Das, who set the terms at a bond of Rs 50,000 along with two sureties of the same amount. Kamar reported that the judge’s order followed a comprehensive hearing where the prosecution presented its case over a period of four to five days.

Kamar noted that the specific grounds for the bail decision were not yet disclosed. He added that Mahanta’s release from custody would occur only after the bail order is filed with the trial court and all requisite formalities are fulfilled. “The honourable judge has read the operative part. We don’t know the grounds for the grant of bail yet,” Kamar stated.

Circumstances Surrounding Zubeen Garg’s Death

Zubeen Garg tragically passed away under mysterious circumstances on September 19, 2022, while swimming in the sea off Singapore. He was in the country attending the fourth edition of the North East India Festival when the incident occurred.

According to reports, a separate investigation by the Singapore Police Force found no evidence of foul play. Additionally, a Coroner’s Court in Singapore concluded that Garg had drowned, having been severely intoxicated at the time and having declined to wear a life jacket. While these findings have been made, authorities in Assam have expressed that they will not influence the ongoing legal proceedings in the state.

Several individuals remain detained in connection with Garg’s death, including Shyamkanu Mahanta, the chief organiser of the North East India Festival, as well as Siddharth Sharma, the manager of Garg, and Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, a band member. Additionally, Garg’s cousin, Assam Police Deputy Superintendent Sandipan Garg, along with personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya are also accused in the case.

Ongoing Investigations and Legal Proceedings

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding Garg’s demise is currently underway, led by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Assam Police. This initiative follows the submission of over 60 First Information Reports (FIRs) related to the case across Assam.

Despite some individuals being granted bail in an unrelated case dealing with disproportionate assets in September, they remain incarcerated due to their involvement in Garg’s death. Kamar mentioned that he would be writing to the government regarding the next steps, indicating a potential for further legal actions in this ongoing case.

As of now, Amrit Prabha Mahanta has been granted bail, but the legal ramifications regarding the investigation into Zubeen Garg’s death continue to be the subject of scrutiny and formal procedures in Assam.

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