Court Accepts Bail Applications with Physical Appearance Condition for Identification; Wife Garima Demands Probe into Singapore-Based Assamese
Family’s Repeated Appeal: No One Should Escape Probe in Zubeen Garg Tragic Death Case
Guwahati, January 17, 2026: In the high-profile Zubeen Garg death case, the District Sessions Judge’s court in Guwahati today accepted multiple bail applications filed by the accused, subject to strict conditions. The court mandated that the accused must appear physically in person during the identification process.
The hearing addressed applications from several accused, including Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddharth Sharma, who had sought to participate in the identification proceedings via video conference (VC). The court acknowledged their request but approved the applications only on the condition of physical presence, emphasizing the importance of in-person identification for the ongoing investigation.
The court also noted claims by the accused that they had not received certain case documents. Despite this, the applications were accepted, and government officials were directed to provide all necessary copies of the documents before the next hearing on January 22, 2026.
Senior Advocate Ziaul Kamar, appearing as the public prosecutor, informed the court that the prosecution would strongly object to the bail plea of Amritprabha Mahanta. The court scheduled January 22 for hearing five bail applications, including that of Amritprabha Mahanta, while the remaining bail pleas are set to be heard on January 30, 2026.
No additional sub-sections have been invoked against the accused at this stage, according to details revealed during the hearing.
The case stems from the tragic death of renowned Assamese singer Zubeen Garg on September 19, 2025, during a yacht outing in Singapore, a day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival. The Assam Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) under CID has charged several individuals, including event organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta, manager Siddharth Sharma, and others, with serious offenses, including murder.
A significant development during the hearing involved potential inclusion of Singapore-based Assamese individuals in the case. Public prosecutor Ziaul Kamar stated that the government could independently bring expatriate Assamese under the purview of Section 358 by filing an appropriate application in court. This follows repeated demands from the victim’s family for a thorough probe into the role of those present on the yacht.
Garima Saikia Garg, wife of Zubeen Garg, has been vocal in her demands. Speaking to the media, she insisted that the Singapore-based Assamese individuals who were with Zubeen at the yacht party must be included in the investigation. “We have repeatedly said that the expatriate Assamese must be brought under investigation,” she said, highlighting their alleged negligence as a contributing factor to the tragedy.
Garima emphasized equal treatment: “Just as the seven accused are being investigated, the expatriate Assamese should also be brought under investigation.” She reiterated her full cooperation with the Singapore police probe, while noting that Singapore’s judicial process differs significantly from India’s and remains in its preliminary stage.
Garima also called for the strictest possible punishment for the guilty, describing the incident as a grave crime warranting “harsh punishment.” She expressed growing confidence in the justice system, stating, “Zubeen’s confidence in justice has increased.” The family has praised the newly appointed government legal team for their strong arguments in court.
An application has already been submitted to the SIT urging the inclusion of Singapore-based individuals, with the family repeatedly stressing that negligence abroad led to the unfortunate incident.
The parallel inquiry in Singapore’s Coroner’s Court has provided different perspectives, with police stating no foul play was suspected and citing factors like intoxication. However, the Assam proceedings continue to focus on alleged criminal culpability.
As the case progresses amid intense public interest, the next key date is January 22, 2026, when the court will hear arguments on multiple bail pleas, including the contested one from Amritprabha Mahanta.
The Zubeen Garg death case continues to draw widespread attention across Assam and beyond, with demands for complete transparency and justice remaining at the forefront.
