5 Suspects in Zubeen Garg Death Case Remanded to 14-Day Judicial Custody in Assam

Guwahati: A local court in Guwahati has ordered 14-day judicial custody for the five individuals accused in the death case of renowned singer Zubeen Garg, following the completion of their CID remand period. The accused include Northeast Festival organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta, his manager Siddhartha Sharma, police officer and Zubeen's cousin Sandipan Garg, along with bodyguards Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya.

Sources indicate that the accused will be detained at the newly constructed district jail in Assam's Baksa district, approximately 100 km from Guwahati. This decision reportedly stems from safety concerns, as fans of the popular singer might be among the current inmates and undertrials.

Public prosecutor Pradip Konwar stated, "The court has remanded them to judicial custody. No bail applications were submitted for any of the five accused. Legal assistance will be provided as per regulations. The court has also directed that their safety and security be ensured during their jail term." Future court appearances may be conducted via video conferencing.

The five individuals were previously held in police custody as part of the ongoing investigation conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta.

Two additional suspects—Garg's bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and co-singer Amritprava Mahanta—remain in CID custody, completing their 14-day remand period. "They will appear before the court on October 17. Additionally, there is a financial case pending against Mahanta," Gupta explained.

Zubeen Garg tragically drowned while swimming during a yacht party in Singapore on September 19. Investigators have already documented statements from nine of the 11 individuals who accompanied the singer abroad, with another expected to arrive soon.

Prior to the court hearing, SIT chief Gupta questioned the legitimacy of Garg's post-mortem report, describing it as "not genuine" due to the absence of a doctor's signature. He emphasized, "Without proper authentication from the doctor, such a report cannot be considered valid."