Gauhati HC rejects Siddhartha Sarma's bail plea second time in Zubeen Garg case
Synopsis
The Gauhati High Court has rejected Siddhartha Sarma's bail plea for the second time in the Zubeen Garg alleged murder conspiracy case — even as Singapore Police found no foul play in the singer's death. The clash between international findings and the Assam SIT's chargesheet against seven accused makes this one of the most legally complex celebrity cases in northeast India.
Key Takeaways
The Gauhati High Court rejected Siddhartha Sarma's bail plea on 26 June — the second such rejection at the High Court level.
Sarma, former manager of Zubeen Garg , was earlier denied bail by a Fast Track Court as well.
The Assam CID's SIT filed a chargesheet naming seven accused , alleging criminal conspiracy in the singer's death.
Singapore Police found no evidence of foul play in Garg's death near Lazarus Island on 19 September last year.
Sarma has separately petitioned the court to reopen his firm Mahabir Aqua and defreeze attached bank accounts.
Sarma will remain in judicial custody as the high-profile trial continues.
The Gauhati High Court on Friday, 26 June rejected the bail application of Siddhartha Sarma, one of the prime accused in the alleged murder conspiracy linked to the death of celebrated Assamese singer Zubeen Garg. The dismissal, by the court of Judicial Magistrate Mitali Thakuria, marks the second consecutive time the High Court has turned down Sarma's plea for relief.
Second Bail Rejection in the Case
Sarma, who served as Zubeen Garg's manager, had earlier sought bail before a Fast Track Court, which declined to grant him relief, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the stage of the investigation. The Gauhati High Court had subsequently declined to entertain his first bail plea after that rejection. Friday's order is the second such dismissal at the High Court level, and Sarma will remain in judicial custody as the trial progresses.
Sarma's Parallel Legal Moves
Even as his bail plea was denied, Sarma has been pursuing other legal remedies before the Gauhati High Court. In a petition filed earlier this month, he sought permission to reopen his firm, Mahabir Aqua, and requested the defreezing of bank accounts attached during the investigation. He also urged the court to take into account findings of the Singapore authorities regarding the circumstances of the singer's death.
Background: Zubeen Garg's Death and the SIT Probe
Zubeen Garg 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). The Singapore Police concluded that there was no evidence of foul play in the singer's death. However, allegations raised by members of the singer's family and others prompted the Assam Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter independently.
The SIT subsequently registered a criminal case and filed a chargesheet naming seven accused persons, including Sarma, alleging a criminal conspiracy linked to the incident. The divergence between the Singapore Police's findings and the SIT's chargesheet has remained a central point of contention in the proceedings.
Public Attention and What Comes Next
The case has drawn considerable public attention across Assam, given Zubeen Garg's immense popularity as a music icon in the region. With Sarma's bail plea rejected for the second time, the trial is expected to proceed with the accused in custody. The High Court's handling of Sarma's challenges to procedural orders — and his petition regarding Mahabir Aqua and the frozen accounts — will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
The primary jurisdiction where Zubeen Garg died, found no evidence of foul play. That jurisdictional contradiction is the fault line this case will eventually have to resolve. The Assam CID's decision to register a criminal case despite a clean foreign police report is legally unusual, and the chargesheet against seven accused will face intense scrutiny at trial. For now, Sarma's continued custody keeps public pressure on the investigation, but the divergence in findings means the prosecution's burden of proof will be exceptionally high.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Siddhartha Sarma's bail rejected by the Gauhati High Court?
The Gauhati High Court rejected Siddhartha Sarma's bail application on 26 June, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the stage of the investigation — the same grounds on which a Fast Track Court had earlier denied him relief. This is the second bail rejection Sarma has faced at the High Court level.
What is the Zubeen Garg death case about?
The case concerns the death of renowned 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 the North East International Festival. While Singapore Police found no foul play, the Assam CID formed an SIT that filed a chargesheet naming seven accused, including Sarma, alleging criminal conspiracy.
What did Singapore authorities conclude about Zubeen Garg's death?
The Singapore Police concluded that there was no evidence of foul play in Zubeen Garg's death. However, allegations from the singer's family led the Assam CID to independently constitute an SIT, which reached different conclusions and filed a criminal chargesheet.
Who are the accused in the Zubeen Garg case?
The Assam CID's SIT chargesheet names seven accused persons in connection with the alleged criminal conspiracy. Siddhartha Sarma, who served as Zubeen Garg's manager, is among the prime accused and is currently in judicial custody.
What other legal actions has Siddhartha Sarma taken?
Apart from seeking bail, Sarma has petitioned the Gauhati High Court to allow him to reopen his firm, Mahabir Aqua, and to defreeze bank accounts attached during the investigation. He has also challenged certain procedural orders passed during the proceedings and urged the court to consider the Singapore authorities' findings.
