Zubeen Garg death case: Gauhati High Court to hear Shyamkanu Mahanta bail plea today
Synopsis
The Gauhati High Court takes up the bail plea of festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta — one of seven accused in the Zubeen Garg death case — on Friday. With a murder charge on the table, a Singapore probe that found no foul play, and Assam's CM on record calling it 'plain and simple murder', this hearing sits at the intersection of law, politics, and a grieving state's demand for answers.
Key Takeaways
The Gauhati High Court will hear the bail plea of Shyamkanu Mahanta on 16 May 2025 before Justice Mridul Kumar Kalita .
Zubeen Garg died on 19 September 2024 while swimming near Lazarus Island, Singapore , a day before a scheduled performance.
An Assam Police CID SIT filed a chargesheet in December 2024 naming seven accused , with four charged with murder .
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma described the case as a 'plain and simple murder' in the state Assembly.
The Singapore Police investigation found no evidence of foul play , creating a divergence with the Assam probe.
Mahanta's bail was previously rejected by a fast-track court; Friday's High Court hearing is the next critical stage.
The Gauhati High Court is set to hear the bail plea of Shyamkanu Mahanta, a key accused in the death case of celebrated Assamese musician Zubeen Garg, on Friday, 16 May 2025. The matter will be taken up before the court of Justice Mridul Kumar Kalita, marking a critical juncture in one of Assam's most closely watched criminal cases.
Background of the Bail Plea
Mahanta, identified as the festival organiser associated with the event Garg was scheduled to perform at, approached the Gauhati High Court after his bail application was rejected by a lower court. A fast-track court had earlier declined to grant him relief after hearing arguments from both the defence and the prosecution. The hearing was originally scheduled for 13 May but was deferred and subsequently rescheduled. His counsel is expected to press legal grounds for bail during Friday's proceedings.
How Zubeen Garg Died
Iconic Assamese singer Zubeen Garg died on 19 September 2024 while swimming near Lazarus Island in Singapore — just a day before he was to perform at an event organised under the NEIF banner. The circumstances of his death triggered an immediate public outcry in Assam, given his stature as one of the state's most beloved cultural figures.
The Chargesheet and Accused
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 2024. The chargesheet named seven accused individuals, including Mahanta. Of these, four have been booked on charges of murder, significantly raising the gravity of the case. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had described the case as a 'plain and simple murder' during a discussion in the state Assembly, reflecting the government's firm stance.
India-Singapore Divergence on Findings
A parallel investigation conducted by the Singapore Police reached a markedly different conclusion, stating that there was no evidence of foul play in Garg's death. Despite this, Assam authorities have maintained that the findings of the foreign probe will not influence the ongoing investigation and trial within the state. This divergence between the two investigations has added a layer of legal and diplomatic complexity to the proceedings.
What Happens Next
Friday's bail hearing before Justice Kalita is widely seen as a pivotal moment in the legal proceedings. The outcome could determine whether Mahanta remains in custody or secures temporary relief while the trial progresses. With public sentiment and political attention running high, the case is expected to remain in the spotlight regardless of the court's decision.
Point of View
While politically resonant, risks being read as executive pressure on an independent judiciary. The bail hearing is not just a procedural step; it will signal how the court weighs a high-profile political narrative against evidentiary standards. Mainstream coverage has focused on sentiment and celebrity; the harder question — how two sovereign investigations reached opposite findings — remains underexplored.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shyamkanu Mahanta and why is he accused in the Zubeen Garg case?
Shyamkanu Mahanta is a festival organiser linked to the NEIF event at which Zubeen Garg was scheduled to perform in Singapore. He is one of seven individuals named in the chargesheet filed by the Assam Police CID SIT in December 2024, with four of the accused — reportedly including Mahanta — charged with murder in connection with Garg's death.
How did Zubeen Garg die?
Zubeen Garg died on 19 September 2024 while swimming near Lazarus Island in Singapore, a day before he was to perform at an event organised under the NEIF banner. The Singapore Police found no evidence of foul play, while the Assam Police SIT filed a murder chargesheet.
What did the Singapore Police investigation conclude?
The Singapore Police investigation concluded that there was no evidence of foul play in Zubeen Garg's death. Assam authorities have maintained that this finding will not affect the ongoing investigation and trial in the state.
Why was Mahanta's earlier bail plea rejected?
A fast-track court rejected Mahanta's bail plea after hearing arguments from both his counsel and the prosecution, declining to grant relief at that stage. He subsequently approached the Gauhati High Court, where the matter will now be heard before Justice Mridul Kumar Kalita.
What has Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said about the case?
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the case as a 'plain and simple murder' during a discussion in the Assam Legislative Assembly, publicly articulating the state government's position on the nature of Zubeen Garg's death.
