A court in Guwahati has remanded five people accused in the death of singer Zubeen Garg to judicial custody for 14 days. The court handed down the order after their police remand expired.
Those sent to custody include Shyamkanu Mahanta (organiser of the North East India Festival), Siddharth Sharma (Garg’s manager), Sandipan Garg (his cousin and an Assam police officer), and two personal security officers, Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya.
They had earlier faced police questioning under the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed for this case. After the maximum period of police custody ended, they appeared before the Kamrup Metropolitan Chief Judicial Magistrate court. None of the five filed a bail application during the hearing.
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Arrest timeline and charges
Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddharth Sharma were arrested on October 1. Initially, they went into 14-day police remand. Sandipan Garg was arrested on October 8 and placed in a 7-day remand. The two PSOs, Bora and Baishya, were arrested on October 10 under a 5-day remand.
The accused face serious charges including criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and negligence. Investigators suspect that several actions or omissions contributed to the singer’s death during a yacht event in Singapore on September 19.
Earlier, the SIT and Assam Police’s CID had summoned many of the associates and companions who had traveled to Singapore with Garg. Investigators also noted financial irregularities in the PSOs’ bank accounts and other connections that might tie into the case.
Court decision and facility transfer
When the police remand ended, the court ordered that the accused go to judicial custody. The court made it clear that all five would be lodged in the new Baksa District Jail, which is about 100 km from Guwahati. The court also mentioned concerns about their safety and welfare.
Supporters of Zubeen Garg gathered outside the jail as the transfer took place. Some of them threw stones at the convoy carrying the accused. The local administration imposed prohibitory orders and deployed security forces to control the situation.
Reactions and context
The decision drew strong reactions from fans and citizens. Many demanded transparency and quick justice. Some feared that custody in a distant jail could interfere with access to their lawyers or with legal rights.
Lawyers pointed out that moving them to a remote prison is not unusual when courts consider security, crowd control, and other logistical factors. Some legal experts also noted that lodging accused persons far from their home region can complicate communication and coordination with their advocates.
Next steps in the investigation
The SIT and CID continue to collect evidence. Investigators plan to record statements from more people who accompanied Garg to Singapore. They also seek access to documents, medical records, financial records, and digital evidence from abroad. The Assam government has requested mutual legal assistance from Singapore to obtain evidence in that country.
Meanwhile, two more suspects — Shekhar Jyoti Goswami (a musician who was with Garg) and Amritprava Mahanta (a singer) — remain in police custody. Their remand is scheduled to expire in coming days, and the court is likely to decide whether to send them into judicial custody next.
The police and SIT will also file a chargesheet once they complete their investigation. The timing will depend on how quickly they gather key evidence and witness statements. The court will consider the chargesheet and decide whether to frame formal charges against the accused.
Importance of the judicial custody order
The judicial custody order gives law enforcement time to investigate without holding the accused in police jails. The 14-day period allows investigators to seek evidence, question witnesses, and build their case. It also prevents the accused from influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence during investigation.
The decision underlines the seriousness of the case. Courts generally grant judicial custody when allegations are serious and the investigation demands time beyond police remand. Here, the judicial custody gives the SIT and CID breathing room to probe cross-border links, financial flows, and forensic reports.
Challenges ahead
Investigators face many challenges: coordinating with foreign agencies, verifying medical reports, establishing timelines, and uncovering whether negligence or intentional wrongdoing led to Garg’s death. Movement of accused to a distant jail may also make legal coordination harder.
Another challenge: maintaining fairness. The court must ensure that the accused get access to their legal rights. Defense lawyers will argue for their rights, and any procedural errors may affect how the case proceeds.
Public attention and media scrutiny add pressure. The high profile of the case means any missteps can lead to criticism. The forces involved must balance speed with thoroughness.
Significance for Assam and for the case
This order is pivotal. It shifts the case into a critical stage where formal charges may soon follow. The remand highlights how serious authorities view the allegations.
For the people of Assam and fans of Zubeen Garg, custody sends a message that the investigation will continue robustly. Many hope that the case will result in clarity about what happened and accountability for any wrongdoing.
If the court later frames charges, the accused will have to mount a defense. Witnesses will appear, forensic evidence will come under scrutiny, and the case may proceed over months or years. In the meantime, the judicial custody ensures that the accused remain in custody during this crucial phase.
Conclusion
Assam’s court has remanded five accused in Zubeen Garg’s death case to 14 days of judicial custody. The move follows the end of their police remand and aims to give investigators space to dig deeper into the mystery. The accused include Garg’s manager, event organiser, his cousin, and two security officers. The court also decided they will be held in Baksa jail.
As the SIT, CID, and Assam Police continue their probe — including cross-border evidence gathering and deep forensic work — the judicial custody period will play a key role in shaping the direction of the case. Fans, observers, and the legal community will watch closely as the next legal steps unfold.
The outcome of the investigation and the fairness of the judicial process will matter greatly not only for justice in this case, but for public faith in law enforcement and accountability in high-profile deaths.
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