The Supreme Court on Monday directed the prosecution to complete the examination of crucial witnesses in the trial concerning the death of singer Zubeen Garg within two months. The court also deferred the bail plea of event manager Shyamkanu Mahanta until October 12.
A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R Mahadevan passed the direction while hearing Mahanta’s plea challenging the Gauhati High Court’s decision to deny him bail.
SC asks prosecution to speed up trial
The bench said it wanted to assess the progress of the trial before deciding on the bail plea.
“We want to see how the trial proceeds. This order will put pressure on them to move ahead with the matter,” the bench said.
The court also asked the prosecution to remain diligent in pursuing the case. Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia told the bench that the trial was being conducted on a day-to-day basis and that key witnesses were expected to be examined soon.
According to Saikia, 11 crucial witnesses are still to be examined, including eyewitnesses who were in Singapore.
Mahanta challenges allegations
Mahanta, who organised the event for which Garg travelled to Singapore, has been named as an accused in the case. He approached the Supreme Court after the Gauhati High Court rejected his bail plea on May 29.
Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Mahanta, argued that his client was not present at the location where Garg died. He also pointed out that only 94 of the 394 witnesses listed in the case had been examined.
Dave maintained that the singer’s death was a drowning and argued that the case had attracted significant public and emotional attention.
The Supreme Court also questioned the alleged motive against Mahanta, observing: “The accused is an event manager. What is his motive to do away with the singer? He is only organising the events.”
Prosecution alleges murder conspiracy
Saikia told the court that the prosecution case involves an alleged murder conspiracy. He alleged that Mahanta had threatened to die by suicide if Garg refused to travel to Singapore.
The prosecution also alleged that Mahanta provided Garg with liquor and allowed him to attend a yacht party despite medical advice to stay away from water.
The Special Investigation Team has charged Mahanta with murder, criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, cheating and criminal breach of trust under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. A special court is currently hearing the case.
Garg’s death in Singapore had triggered widespread outrage among his fans, with demands for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his drowning.