New Delhi, October 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Supreme Court on Monday deferred the hearing on the bail plea of Shyamkanu Mahanta, a key accused in the case related to the death of Assam singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg in Singapore, and posted the matter for hearing in the first week of November.
Mahanta, who is currently lodged in Baksa jail, was arrested in October 2025, about a month after Garg died in Singapore. He is among several people facing investigation and criminal proceedings in connection with the case.
During Monday’s hearing, the Assam government informed the Supreme Court about the progress of the trial and said examination of witnesses was underway.
According to the state’s submission, statements of 94 of the 394 witnesses had been recorded as of August 14. Several important witnesses based in Singapore are yet to be examined, and their statements are expected to be recorded shortly.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed the Assam authorities to ensure that the trial proceeds expeditiously and without unnecessary delay. The progress of the proceedings was also taken into consideration while hearing Mahanta’s bail plea.
Garg died in Singapore in September 2025 following an incident at sea. His death triggered widespread grief in Assam and led to questions over the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Assam government subsequently ordered a criminal investigation into the circumstances leading to his death. The probe resulted in multiple arrests and criminal proceedings.
Mahanta, who was associated with the organisation of the North East India Festival in Singapore, was among those arrested. Investigators have examined Garg’s presence in Singapore and the events preceding his death.
A fast-track court in Assam has framed murder charges against four accused, including Mahanta. Several others, including Garg’s bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, have also been arrested in connection with the case.
With prosecution evidence still being recorded and key witnesses from Singapore yet to be examined, the Supreme Court will take up Mahanta’s bail plea again in the first week of November.
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