Will the Assam Court Grant Bail to the Accused in Zubeen Garg's Death Case?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Five accused in Zubeen Garg's case seek bail.
- The SIT has submitted a detailed charge sheet.
- Witness testimonies indicate Garg's intoxication prior to drowning.
- The court examines medical history related to Garg's health conditions.
- Witnesses report no signs of suicidal intent.
Guwahati, Jan 22 (NationPress) The District and Sessions Judge's Court in Assam's Kamrup district is set to review the bail requests on Thursday submitted by the five individuals implicated in the tragic passing of the state's cultural figure, Zubeen Garg, as per court officials.
The prosecution has reported that the five accused, including Shyamkanu Mahanta and Amritprabha Mahanta, have filed for bail, claiming they have been fully cooperative with the investigation and that substantial progress has been made.
In the charge sheet, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has identified the late singer's manager, Siddhartha Sharma, and bandmate Shekharjyoti Goswami as murder suspects in the investigation surrounding Zubeen Garg's death. Additionally, Garg's cousin, Sandipan Garg, a suspended officer in the Assam Police, has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
This hearing is particularly crucial as it follows the SIT's submission of the charge sheet, which outlines the roles of five individuals in the events leading to Zubeen's demise. The SIT was formed by the Assam Police to investigate this prominent case.
The charge sheet reportedly includes witness statements, forensic evidence, electronic records, and international communications, which form the foundation of the prosecution's arguments. The accused, however, have maintained their innocence.
The bail applications were filed after the Singapore Police informed a court that they had ruled out any foul play in Zubeen Garg's death, concluding that he drowned. They noted that Garg was heavily intoxicated on a yacht shortly before his tragic incident.
Witnesses reported that Garg had been consuming alcohol while on board the yacht. One witness indicated that he had multiple drinks, including gin, whisky, and sips of Guinness Stout.
The investigating officer shared that Garg initially swam, returned to the yacht, expressed fatigue, and then re-entered the water shortly after. The inquiry also examined his medical background.
The court was informed of his known conditions, including hypertension and epilepsy, with his last reported epileptic seizure occurring in 2024. Forensic tests revealed medication for both conditions in his bloodstream, but it could not be definitively established whether he had taken his epilepsy medication on the day of the incident, due to inconclusive eyewitness accounts.
A forensic pathologist testified that there were no evident signs, like a bitten tongue, to confirm if Garg experienced a seizure before entering the water. The captain of the yacht, named Crazy Monkey, also provided testimony.
The captain stated that Garg required assistance from two friends to board the yacht due to his inability to walk. He also mentioned that some guests had started drinking prior to boarding and that he conducted two safety briefings during the trip.
In his account, the captain noted that he warned Garg’s friends about him appearing inebriated before he entered the water a second time without a life jacket. Following this, the captain jumped in and swam towards Garg when he noticed him floating face down. Police reported that witness statements indicated that Garg entered the water of his own volition and showed no signs of suicidal intent.