The Zubeen Garg death case has taken a fresh turn after Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia said that bail granted to Amritprabha Mahanta and Sandipan Garg does not amount to a clean chit. He also confirmed that the state government plans to challenge the Gauhati High Court’s decisions in the Supreme Court.
Saikia defended the investigation, saying officials had conducted the probe properly and filed a chargesheet. Meanwhile, Assam Police has announced plans to appeal against both bail orders as the trial continues before a special fast-track court.
Zubeen Garg Death Case: Saikia Defends Investigation
Speaking about the bail decisions on October 18, Saikia rejected suggestions that Amritprabha Mahanta’s release meant she had been cleared of the allegations.
“Bail being granted doesn’t mean getting a clean chit,” he said, responding to comments suggesting that the singer had received a clean chit in the case.
The Advocate General maintained that investigators had followed the proper procedure and submitted the chargesheet. He also pointed to alleged discrepancies in the High Court’s bail order concerning Mahanta.
However, bail and acquittal are legally different. Bail allows an accused person to remain out of custody under specified conditions while proceedings continue. It does not, by itself, end the criminal case or establish guilt or innocence.
Saikia said the state government had decided to approach the Supreme Court, although the detailed grounds for the proposed appeal were still awaited.
Gauhati High Court Grants Bail to Two Accused
The latest developments in the Zubeen Garg death case followed two separate bail orders by the Gauhati High Court. The court granted bail to Mahanta on October 9 and to Sandipan Garg on October 16.
Mahanta, a singer who performed alongside Garg, had spent more than a year in custody. The court granted her bail against a bond of Rs 50,000 and two sureties of the same amount.
Sandipan Garg, a suspended Assam Police deputy superintendent of police and the late singer’s cousin, also secured bail. He faces charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the case.
However, both accused must continue to face the ongoing legal proceedings. Their release on bail does not end the trial or settle the allegations against them.
The detailed reasoning behind the bail decisions became an important issue for the prosecution. Saikia referred to alleged discrepancies in Mahanta’s bail order while defending the investigation conducted by the state police.
Assam Police Plans Supreme Court Appeal
Special Director General of Police (CID) and Special Investigation Team chief Munna Prasad Gupta confirmed on October 18 that Assam Police would challenge both bail orders in the Supreme Court.
Gupta said the appeals would be filed after the courts reopen following the ongoing holidays. The move reflects the state’s decision to contest the High Court’s orders through the judicial process.
Meanwhile, the trial continues before a special fast-track court, which is hearing the case on a day-to-day basis. According to Gupta, the court has examined 134 witnesses so far.
The prosecution’s next steps will depend on the formal appeals and the Supreme Court’s response. Until then, the High Court’s bail orders remain the basis for the two accused to seek release, subject to the applicable conditions.
Moreover, the proposed appeals will give the state an opportunity to present its objections before the Supreme Court. The court will consider the legal arguments before deciding whether any intervention is warranted.
Zubeen Garg Death Case Remains Under Trial
Zubeen Garg died in Singapore on September 19, 2025, while swimming in the sea during a trip connected to the Northeast India Festival. He had travelled to the city-state ahead of a scheduled performance at the event.
His death triggered widespread grief across Assam and demands for a thorough investigation. Assam Police subsequently formed an SIT to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The investigation resulted in a chargesheet naming seven accused. They include event organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, manager Siddharth Sharma, bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, Amritprabha Mahanta, Sandipan Garg and two personal security officers.
The allegations against the accused differ, and the charges must be assessed through the ongoing judicial process. None should be treated as guilty merely because investigators have named them in the case.
The circumstances of Garg’s death have also drawn attention to the distinction between the findings of different investigations and the allegations pursued by Assam Police. The trial remains the forum for examining the prosecution’s evidence and the defence arguments.
Legal Battle Continues as Trial Progresses
The planned Supreme Court challenge marks another important stage in the Zubeen Garg death case. Saikia’s statement underlines the government’s position that the bail orders do not amount to an exoneration of the accused.
At the same time, the legal process requires courts to assess each bail application and the evidence presented before them. The grant of bail does not determine the final outcome of a criminal trial.
With Assam Police preparing its appeals and witness examination continuing, the coming hearings could shape the next phase of the case. The Supreme Court’s response, along with the progress of the fast-track trial, will be closely watched.
For Garg’s family and admirers, the central concern remains accountability and a fair judicial process. Ultimately, the court must determine the case on the basis of admissible evidence and applicable law.