The high-profile death trial involving singer and icon Zubeen Garg took a major turn on Tuesday, December 16, as hearings finally started before the Kamrup (Metro) Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Guwahati.
The case, which had been under investigation now enters its judicial phase as all seven accused appear before the court via video conferencing and not physically as had been planned despite warnings from Assam Police’s Criminal Investigation Department that this could raise concerns over law and order when physically produced in the courthouse premises.
Government advocate Pradip Konwar has confirmed that the court first issued a directive to personally appear in court, but after consultation with the prosecution and the director of prosecution, a joint decision has been arrived at that the accused will personally join the first hearing via a video link. This will remain so until the case reaches the sessions court for a trial because then all accused will have to personally appear in court as per the Bhartia Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The chargesheet was filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) last week and is said to consist of approximately 12,000 pages. This is the first time the defendants have been presented before the magistrate. According to the SIT investigation, the event happened on September 19, 2025, at a coastal site in the country of Singapore. Garg was reportedly unconscious for approximately 75 minutes before medical attention was sought due to the delay in the ambulance’s arrival.
The chargesheet mentions that “excessive intake of alcohol is reported to have preceded the incident, which took place during a nightlong party and a yacht ride.” There are seven persons who have been identified as accused, with some of them being charged with the distribution of alcohol, as well as encouraging others to indulge in risky activities at sea. The distribution of alcohol has been alleged against a person named Shyamkanu Mahanta, while Amritaprabha Mahanta ensured the steady supply of the same, as has been reported. Footage has been captured from mobile phones, with images and videos taken at points of time that are critical to the case.
The accused includes Siddhartha Sharma, the manager of Zubeen, who is said to have encouraged the entry of Garg into the sea in an intoxicated condition and without safety precautions. Drummer Shekharjyoti Goswami is also accused of encouraging the entry into the sea without a safety lifeguard or a life jacket. The chargesheets also include the name of Sandipan Garg, the Assam Police officer, who is a cousin of the singer, along with Section 105 of the ‘Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.’ His becoming the approver has been reported to be under consideration.
Today, five of the accused, including Shyamkanu Mahanta, Siddharth Sharma, Sandipan Garg, and personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya, are being detained at Baksa district jail. The rest, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta, are being held at Haflong sub jail in Dima Hasao district. They appeared before the hearing through video conferencing.
“The case in Guwahati is, however, proceeding on a parallel track because of the ongoing investigation in Singapore, which is Garg’s country of death. The final report on the case is expected to be received by the Singapore Coroner’s Court by January 2026, and depending on this report, it would then reveal if the case is one of accident or if there are elements of homicide. When this case is determined to be homicide, then formal proceedings could then ensue, and results are also expected by mid-March. But should the Coroner find nothing out of the ordinary, then this death shall be attributed to natural or accidental causes.”
The two investigations give rise to complex legal realities. A murder case has already been registered by Assam’s SIT, which alleges a criminal conspiracy among the main persons in the chargesheet. If it is held to be non-homicide by the Coroner from Singapore, it would give a blow to the basis of the murder charges and therefore there would be scope for modifications in the existing chargesheet. Until Zubeen’s fate is decided, Zubeen Garg’s case will continue to operate in two different jurisdicitons and stories.
Fliki News has already emerged through the massive charging sheet of 12,000 pages filed in Assam, but the Singaporean story has yet to be conclusively decided. The results of both will play an important role in defining the narrative of singer Zubeen’s death.
