Legal proceedings surrounding the death of singer Zubeen Garg took another significant turn as the Supreme Court declined to release Shyamkanu Mahanta on bail. The bench postponed any final relief, listing the matter for the next hearing on October 5.
Bench Proceedings and State Submissions
A judicial bench consisting of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan presided over the plea, officially registered as SLP (Crl.) No. 11523/2026. During the session, representatives for the Assam government updated the justices that courtroom trials are actively moving forward with evidence collection. The state stated that out of a total of 394 witnesses, statements from 94 individuals had been successfully recorded as of August 14.
Witness Testimonies from Overseas
Counsel representing Mahanta raised concerns that several crucial witnesses based in Singapore have yet to appear before the trial court. In response, the state administration informed the panel that these testimonies are anticipated to be recorded within the upcoming two to three weeks. Authorities further noted that these specific witnesses were already questioned by the investigating officer during the initial phases of the probe.
Trial Expedition and Case Background
While advising state authorities to expedite the ongoing judicial proceedings, the top court refrained from delivering a final ruling on the bail application on Monday, keeping the matter pending until the October 5 session. Mahanta, who served as the organizer of the North East India Festival in Singapore, was taken into custody in October 2025 and stands as one of seven individuals accused in the matter. A fast-track court situated in Assam has formally framed murder charges against four of the defendants, including Mahanta, with all accused parties pleading not guilty.
