Gauhati HC grants bail to Amritprava Mahanta in Zubeen Garg death case
Synopsis
For the first time since arrests began in the Zubeen Garg death case, a court has granted bail — to co-singer Amritprava Mahanta. But her actual release is far from certain, with other pending cases potentially keeping her in Haflong Jail, mirroring an earlier twist in the same case where bailed security officers could not walk free either.
Key Takeaways
The Gauhati High Court granted bail to Amritprava Mahanta on 9 October 2026 , making her the first accused in the Zubeen Garg death case to receive bail.
Bail was set on a bond of ₹50,000 ; her actual release remains uncertain due to potentially pending cases.
Mahanta has been held at Haflong Jail since her arrest on 2 October 2025 .
Zubeen Garg , aged 52 , died on 19 September 2025 while swimming off Singapore during the North East India Festival .
The Assam SIT charged four accused — including Mahanta — with murder ; charges are yet to be established at trial.
The Gauhati High Court on Friday, 9 October 2026, granted bail to Amritprava Mahanta, a co-singer of late Assam music icon Zubeen Garg, in the case linked to his death in Singapore in September 2025. Mahanta becomes the first accused in the high-profile case to secure bail, according to officials.
Key Developments in the Bail Order
The court granted bail on a personal bond of ₹50,000. However, her actual release from custody remains uncertain, as other cases may still be pending against her — a situation that previously prevented the release of two of Garg's personal security officers, who had separately secured bail in a related financial transactions case but could not walk free for the same reason.
Mahanta had been lodged at Haflong Jail since her arrest by the Assam Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) on 2 October 2025, following several hours of questioning.
How Zubeen Garg Died
Zubeen Garg, 52, died on 19 September 2025 while swimming in the sea off Singapore, where he had travelled to attend the North East India Festival. His death triggered widespread public outrage across Assam, with fans and civil society demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
In response to the public outcry, the Assam government constituted an SIT, which subsequently arrested several individuals who had accompanied the singer on his Singapore trip.
Who Was Arrested and What They Are Charged With
The SIT arrested festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg's manager Siddhartha Sharma, and band members Shekharjyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta. A chargesheet was later filed accusing all four of murder.
Garg's cousin, Sandipan Garg, was charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. His two personal security officers, Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya, were charged with criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust. Notably, the charges against all accused remain subject to full judicial proceedings and have yet to be established through trial.
Public Scrutiny and What Comes Next
The case has remained under intense public and media scrutiny in Assam since Garg's death, given his stature as one of the state's most celebrated musical voices. Amritprava Mahanta's bail order marks the first major judicial development in favour of any accused since the arrests began over a year ago.
All remaining accused continue to face ongoing proceedings, and the next critical phase will be the commencement of trial, which is expected to determine the validity of the charges laid out in the SIT's chargesheet.
Point of View
But the caveats matter as much as the ruling — other pending cases could keep her in jail indefinitely, just as they did Garg's security officers. The SIT's chargesheet alleges murder in what was initially reported as an accidental drowning, a gap between the public narrative and the legal framing that has never been adequately explained to Assam's citizens. Over a year after Garg's death, no accused has faced trial. The pace of proceedings will test whether the public accountability the Assam government promised after the singer's death translates into judicial credibility.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Amritprava Mahanta and why was she arrested?
Amritprava Mahanta is a co-singer who had accompanied Assam music icon Zubeen Garg on his Singapore trip in September 2025. She was arrested by the Assam SIT on 2 October 2025 and later charged with murder in connection with Garg's death while swimming off Singapore on 19 September 2025.
Will Amritprava Mahanta be released from jail after getting bail?
Not necessarily. While the Gauhati High Court granted her bail on a ₹50,000 bond, her actual release depends on whether other cases are pending against her — a situation that previously prevented Garg's two personal security officers from being freed despite securing bail in a separate matter.
How did Zubeen Garg die?
Zubeen Garg, 52, died on 19 September 2025 while swimming in the sea off Singapore, where he had travelled to attend the North East India Festival. The circumstances of his death remain the subject of an ongoing SIT investigation and judicial proceedings.
What charges have been filed in the Zubeen Garg death case?
The Assam SIT filed a chargesheet accusing Amritprava Mahanta, Shyamkanu Mahanta, Siddhartha Sharma, and Shekharjyoti Goswami of murder. Garg's cousin Sandipan Garg was charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, while his two security officers were charged with criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.
What happens next in the Zubeen Garg case?
All accused continue to face ongoing court proceedings, with the charges yet to be established through a full trial. Amritprava Mahanta's bail marks the first significant judicial development in favour of any accused since arrests began in October 2025.
