Guwahati, March 2: A local court on Monday ordered the defreezing of festival organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta’s bank account citing “technical lapses” in the Zubeen Garg death case, while fixing March 19 for a charge hearing, special public prosecutor (SPP) Ziaul Kamar told reporters.
The Kamrup Metropolitan District and Sessions Court rejected a petition by another accused, Siddharth Sharma, seeking the Singapore Police report. Kamar said the court directed Sharma to access relevant details from Assam Police between March 10 and 12, from 2 pm to 4 pm.On Sharma’s plea to de-attach his Guwahati flat allegedly bought with Rs 16 lakh embezzled from Garg the court allowed it if he provides equivalent bank surety to police.
Kamar confirmed the prosecution is prepared for the March 19 charge hearing, after which the trial begins. “The accused might file more petitions,” he noted, accusing them earlier of delaying tactics.
Garg’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, and sister Palme Barthakur attended the hearing. Garima expressed disappointment over Mahanta’s account defreezing, calling it due to “procedural lapse and technical issue.”A related case against Sharma’s co-owned packaged water firm, Mahabir Aqua, is also listed for March 19.
On a promised fast-track court, Kamar said it’s pending between the government and Gauhati High Court, stressing it would speed things up without curtailing legal rights.Zubeen Garg, 49, drowned off Singapore’s Lazarus Island on September 19, 2025, during the 4th North East India Festival (NEIF). A Singapore coroner’s court ruled out foul play, citing intoxication and refusal of a life jacket.
Assam Police’s CID Special Investigation Team filed a December chargesheet alleging murder against Mahanta (NEIF chief), Sharma (Garg’s manager), band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta, cousin/suspended DSP Sandipan Garg, and PSOs Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya all in jail.
The state appointed a five-member prosecution team led by Kamar, with Brojendra Mohan Chaudhuri as additional PP and assistants Kishor Dutta, Pranjal Dutta, and Vikash Jammar.
