Zubeen Garg death case: Five more witnesses examined in Guwahati trial
Synopsis
Five more prosecution witnesses were examined in the Zubeen Garg death case trial in Guwahati on 9 June, as the Gauhati High Court simultaneously listed the bail plea of key accused Siddhartha Sarma for a future date. With four of seven accused facing murder charges, the trial is shaping up as a landmark criminal proceeding in Assam.
Key Takeaways
Five prosecution witnesses were examined before a Guwahati court on 9 June in the Zubeen Garg death case.
Special Public Prosecutor Ziaur Kamar confirmed evidence recording is progressing steadily.
Key accused Siddhartha Sarma , Garg's former manager, has his bail plea listed before the Gauhati High Court for a future date; a Fast Track Court had earlier rejected his bail.
Zubeen Garg died on 19 September last year while swimming near Lazarus Island, Singapore , a day before a scheduled performance at the NEIF event.
An Assam Police CID SIT filed a chargesheet naming seven accused , four of whom face murder charges .
The trial in the death case of celebrated Assamese singer Zubeen Garg advanced on Tuesday, 9 June as five prosecution witnesses were examined before a court in Guwahati, marking another step forward in one of Assam's most closely watched criminal proceedings.
Key Developments in Court
Special Public Prosecutor Ziaur Kamar told reporters after the hearing that the evidence-recording process is progressing steadily. 'The trial is continuing, and today five witnesses were examined by the court. The process of recording evidence is underway,' Kamar said.
He added that further witnesses are expected to depose before the court in upcoming hearings, signalling that the trial is building momentum.
Bail Plea of Key Accused
Kamar also provided an update on the bail application filed by Siddhartha Sarma, a former manager of Zubeen Garg and one of the key accused in the case. The Gauhati High Court has fixed a future date for hearing a petition connected to the matter and has directed that relevant case records be produced before it.
This comes days after the High Court declined to entertain Sarma's earlier bail plea, resulting in no substantive hearing on the application. Sarma had approached the High Court after a Fast Track Court rejected his bail petition, citing the gravity of the allegations and the stage of the investigation.
Background: How Zubeen Garg Died
The case centres on the death of Zubeen Garg, who died on 19 September last year while swimming near Lazarus Island in Singapore — a day before he was scheduled to perform at an event organised under the North East International Festival (NEIF) banner. The circumstances of his death drew immediate public and political attention across Assam and the broader Northeast.
SIT Chargesheet and Accused
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Assam Police CID subsequently investigated the matter and filed a chargesheet naming seven accused persons, of whom four face murder charges. The severity of the charges reflects the SIT's assessment that the death was not accidental, though the trial is yet to reach a verdict.
What Comes Next
With evidence recording ongoing and the Gauhati High Court set to revisit Sarma's bail matter on a later date, the pace of the trial will be closely watched by Garg's fans and the wider Assamese public. The outcome of the bail proceedings could influence the dynamics of the trial in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Not routine procedure. What mainstream coverage underplays is the broader question of institutional accountability: Garg died abroad during an event organised under an official cultural banner, yet the full chain of responsibility has not been publicly established. The trial's pace and the High Court's posture on bail will be telling indicators of how seriously the system is treating this case.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Zubeen Garg death case?
The case involves the death of celebrated Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, who died on 19 September last year while swimming near Lazarus Island in Singapore, a day before a scheduled performance at a North East International Festival event. An Assam Police CID SIT investigated and filed a chargesheet against seven accused, four of whom face murder charges.
Who is Siddhartha Sarma in the Zubeen Garg case?
Siddhartha Sarma is a former manager of Zubeen Garg and one of the key accused named in the SIT chargesheet. His bail plea was rejected by a Fast Track Court and is currently listed before the Gauhati High Court, which has sought case records before proceeding with a hearing.
How many witnesses have been examined so far?
Five prosecution witnesses were examined on 9 June in the latest hearing. The Special Public Prosecutor indicated that further witnesses are expected to depose in upcoming hearings, though a total cumulative count was not disclosed at this stage.
What charges do the accused face?
Of the seven accused named in the SIT chargesheet, four face murder charges. The remaining accused face other charges connected to the case, though specifics of those charges have not been publicly detailed by the prosecution.
What happens next in the case?
Evidence recording is set to continue in subsequent hearings. Separately, the Gauhati High Court will take up Siddhartha Sarma's bail petition on a future date after reviewing the case records it has directed to be produced.
