Assam Police to Challenge Bail in Zubeen Garg Death Case

Assam Police will challenge the Gauhati High Court's bail orders for two accused in the Zubeen Garg death case before the Supreme Court. The challenge will be filed as soon as courts reopen after the ongoing holidays.

Special DGP CID and SIT Chief Munna Prasad Gupta announced the decision at a press conference on Sunday, October 18, held at the Criminal Investigation Department office in Ulubari. Gupta confirmed the SIT will file an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging both bail orders. Lawyer Ratul Bora had also announced on October 17 his intention to approach the Supreme Court. The two individuals granted bail are Amritprava Mahanta, a co-singer, and Sandipon Garg, the late singer's cousin and a suspended Assam Police DSP.

Munna Prasad Gupta said: "The procedure will happen very soon. Nowadays, the court holidays are going on, and the moment the courts reopen, we will file the appeals."

Case background and judicial proceedings

The Zubeen Garg death case is being heard in a special fast-track sessions court in Guwahati. Proceedings in Case No. 18/2025 are progressing on a day-to-day basis. A Special Investigation Team investigated the case and filed a charge sheet in December 2025, naming seven accused. Four of the seven face murder charges. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier told the Assam Assembly that Garg’s death was a case of 'plain and simple murder'.

The Gauhati High Court granted bail to Amritprava Mahanta on October 9 on a bond of ₹50,000, making her the first accused to secure bail. A single bench of Justice Rajesh Mazumdar granted bail to Sandipon Garg on October 16. The fast-track trial has examined between 125 and 134 witnesses so far.

The five other accused are North East India Festival chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma, band member Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, and personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya. The two PSOs had been granted bail in a separate disproportionate assets case in September 2026 but remain in jail for the singer's death case. A separate investigation, CID Police Station Case No. 19/2025, into alleged financial irregularities linked to Siddharth Sharma and Shyamkanu Mahanta remains underway with no arrests made.

Assam lawyer Ratul Bora, who filed the first police complaint, has criticized the prosecution. He claims loopholes in the police charge sheet have allowed the accused to obtain bail one after another and that the government’s role in the legal proceedings has been unsatisfactory.

Wider context and public response

Zubeen Garg died on September 19, 2025, while swimming in the sea near Singapore’s Lazarus Island a day before a scheduled performance. The Assamese cultural icon was in Singapore for the North East India Festival. Singapore Police conducted a separate probe, concluding there was no evidence of foul play. A Singapore court stated Garg was severely intoxicated and drowned after declining to wear a life jacket.

His death triggered more than 60 FIRs across Assam. On October 17, Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi announced the formation of a 21-member convening committee to coordinate legal efforts and mobilise public support for justice. Zubeen Garg, known widely for his 2006 Hindi film song 'Ya Ali', remained a central figure in Assamese music and culture.

Assam Police will file appeals in the Supreme Court challenging the bail orders as soon as courts reopen after the ongoing holidays.