Gauhati High Court rejects Shyamkanu Mahanta bail plea in Zubeen Garg death case
Synopsis
The Gauhati High Court has denied bail to Shyamkanu Mahanta, the prime accused in Zubeen Garg's death — the second successive court to do so. With deleted phone data retrieved, alleged witness coaching exposed, and four accused charged with murder, the case is deepening even as Singapore Police found no evidence of foul play.
Key Takeaways
The Gauhati High Court rejected Shyamkanu Mahanta's bail plea on 29 May in the Zubeen Garg death case.
A Fast Track Court had previously dismissed Mahanta's bail application in the same case.
Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia cited seven grounds , including flight risk and evidence tampering concerns.
Investigators reportedly retrieved deleted data from Mahanta's mobile phone; he allegedly coached co-accused Amritprabha Mahanta on her statements.
The SIT chargesheet filed in December named seven accused , with four charged with murder .
Singapore Police found no evidence of foul play — a finding Assam authorities say will not affect the state's trial.
The Gauhati High Court on Friday, 29 May rejected the bail application of Shyamkanu Mahanta, the festival organiser and prime accused in the death probe of Assam's celebrated musician Zubeen Garg. Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia cited seven grounds before the court, arguing that Mahanta posed a flight risk and could tamper with evidence if released.
Key Grounds for Bail Rejection
Addressing the media after the proceedings, Advocate General Saikia said the court weighed seven crucial aspects placed before it by the prosecution. Among the most significant: investigators had reportedly retrieved deleted data from Mahanta's mobile phone during the course of the probe. Saikia also alleged that Mahanta had prepared dictated notes instructing Garg's bandmate and fellow singer Amritprabha Mahanta on what statements to make — raising serious concerns over attempts to influence the investigation and tamper with evidence.
Accused Already Denied Bail by Lower Court
The Gauhati High Court's order comes after a Fast Track Court had earlier dismissed Mahanta's bail application in the same case. Amritprabha Mahanta, who had travelled to Singapore with Zubeen Garg, remains in judicial custody owing to her alleged role in the singer's death. The prosecution argued strongly that releasing any accused at this stage risked compromising the ongoing trial.
Background: How Zubeen Garg Died
Zubeen Garg died on 19 September last year while swimming near Lazarus Island in Singapore — just a day before he was scheduled to perform at an event organised under the NEIF banner. Following the incident, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Assam Police's CID conducted an extensive probe and filed a chargesheet in December. The chargesheet named seven accused individuals, including Mahanta, with four of them booked on charges of murder.
Political Attention and Conflicting Probe Findings
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had described the case as a 'plain and simple murder' during a discussion in the state Assembly, underlining the government's firm stance. Notably, a parallel investigation by Singapore Police reached a different conclusion, stating there was no evidence of foul play in Garg's death. Assam authorities have, however, maintained that the foreign probe's findings will not influence the ongoing investigation and trial in the state.
Public Reaction
The case has continued to draw strong reactions, with social media users rallying behind the campaign 'Justice for Zubeen Garg' and demanding strict punishment for those found responsible. With bail denied at two successive stages, the case moves forward as the court allows the investigation to proceed.
Point of View
Now by the Gauhati High Court — signal that the judiciary is treating the prosecution's evidence seriously, even as a Singapore Police inquiry reached the opposite conclusion on foul play. That jurisdictional contradiction is the fault line this case will eventually have to resolve: Assam's murder charges rest on a theory that a foreign sovereign investigation has publicly dismissed. The retrieved deleted data and alleged witness coaching, if proven, would go some way toward bridging that evidentiary gap — but the burden remains high. Chief Minister Sarma's 'plain and simple murder' framing from the Assembly floor, while politically resonant, also risks prejudicing proceedings that are still at the pre-trial stage.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Shyamkanu Mahanta's bail rejected by the Gauhati High Court?
The Gauhati High Court rejected Mahanta's bail on 29 May after Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia cited seven grounds, including the risk of the accused fleeing and concerns over evidence tampering. Investigators had reportedly retrieved deleted data from Mahanta's phone, and he allegedly coached a co-accused on her statements.
Who is Shyamkanu Mahanta and what is his role in the case?
Shyamkanu Mahanta is a festival organiser named as the prime accused in the death probe of Assam musician Zubeen Garg. He is among seven individuals named in the SIT chargesheet filed in December, with four of them — reportedly including Mahanta — charged with murder.
How did Zubeen Garg die?
Zubeen Garg died on 19 September last year while swimming near Lazarus Island in Singapore, a day before he was to perform at an event organised under the NEIF banner. Assam's SIT has filed murder charges, while Singapore Police concluded there was no evidence of foul play.
What is the status of Amritprabha Mahanta in the case?
Amritprabha Mahanta, a singer and Zubeen Garg's bandmate who travelled with him to Singapore, is currently in judicial custody due to her alleged role in his death. The Advocate General alleged she was coached by Shyamkanu Mahanta on what statements to give.
Does the Singapore Police finding affect the Assam trial?
No. Assam authorities have stated that the Singapore Police's conclusion — that there was no evidence of foul play — will not influence the ongoing investigation and trial in the state. The Assam SIT has proceeded independently, filing a chargesheet with murder charges against four of the seven accused.
