The Gauhati High Court on Friday, October 16, granted bail to suspended Assam Police DSP Sandipon Garg in connection with the death of singer Zubeen Garg. Sandipon, a cousin of the late singer, had been arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case.
Court grants relief to Sandipon Zubeen Garg
A single bench of Justice Rajesh Mazumdar passed the bail order after hearing his petition. Speaking to ANI over the phone, Special Public Prosecutor Ziaul Kamar said, “Gauhati High Court has granted bail to Sandipon Garg, and the court has not read out the full order.”
Amritprava Mahanta was the first to get bail
Last week, on October 9, the same court granted bail to Amritprava Mahanta, a co-singer of Zubeen Garg. She became the first accused in the case to get bail. According to the prosecutor, the court released her on a bond of Rs 50,000. The SIT of the Assam Police had arrested her in 2025 after hours of questioning. She moved the High Court after her arrest, and the bail order followed.
What happened to Zubeen Garg?
The singer died in Singapore on September 19, 2025, in a scuba diving accident. This was a day before he was due to perform at the Northeast India Festival. Shyamkanu Mahanta, who has organised the festival since 2013, was also arrested after the singer’s death.
Supreme Court asked Assam to ensure a speedy trial
In August, the Supreme Court told the Assam government to ensure a diligent and quick trial against Shyamkanu Mahanta, who faces criminal charges in the case. The State informed a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan that the trial was being held on a day-to-day basis. It added that several key witnesses were expected to depose in the coming weeks.Justice Nagarathna observed orally that the court was putting the State under pressure to keep the trial moving. She said the bench would review the progress when the matter came up again.
Defence and State arguments
Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Shyamkanu Mahanta, argued that the singer was an adult who had willingly boarded a boat and gone into the sea wearing a life jacket before drowning. He said Mahanta was not present at the time of the incident.Dave also questioned the allegation that Mahanta conspired to cause the death by not taking proper care of the singer or by giving him alcohol. He argued that Garg was an adult and Mahanta could not be blamed for his decision to drink.The State, however, maintained that the death was not an accident and said the prosecution had material pointing to a conspiracy.
