Zubeen Garg death probe: Singer Amritprabha Mahanta’s bail plea rejected

A local court in Guwahati on Friday rejected the bail plea of singer Amritprabha Mahanta, a co-performer of Assam’s late cultural icon Zubeen Garg, in connection with the probe into his death.

Mahanta, who has been booked on murder charges by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Assam government, has been in judicial custody for the past several months. The court also turned down bail petitions filed by two Personal Security Officers (PSOs) linked to the case.

Opposing the bail, the government-appointed prosecutor told the court that Mahanta was allegedly part of a conspiracy to murder Zubeen Garg, arguing that the seriousness of the charges and the stage of the investigation warranted continued custody.

Reacting to the court’s decision, Garg’s wife Garima Garg said she had full faith in the judicial process. “I am hopeful that those responsible for Zubeen’s untimely death will be punished,” she told reporters.

The hearing came amid detailed submissions on the circumstances surrounding Garg’s death, which occurred during a yacht outing in Singapore. Singapore Police had earlier informed the court that Garg was heavily intoxicated shortly before the incident in which he drowned.

Witnesses told investigators that Garg had been consuming alcohol on board the yacht, including gin, whisky and Guinness stout. One testimony stated that he drank several cups of liquor during the outing.

According to the investigating officer, Garg initially entered the water for a swim, returned to the yacht saying he felt tired, and then went back into the water a few minutes later.

The probe has also examined Garg’s medical history. The court was informed that the singer suffered from hypertension and epilepsy, with his last reported epileptic episode occurring in 2024. Forensic analysis detected medication for both conditions in his bloodstream.

However, investigators said it could not be conclusively established whether Garg had taken his epilepsy medication on the day of the incident, as eyewitness accounts were inconclusive. A forensic pathologist testified that there were no physical signs, such as a bitten tongue, to confirm whether Garg had suffered a seizure before entering the water.

The captain of the yacht, named Crazy Monkey, also deposed before the court. He said Garg had to be physically supported by two friends while boarding the vessel as he was unable to walk properly. The captain added that some passengers had begun drinking even before boarding and that he conducted two safety briefings during the voyage.

In his testimony, the captain said he warned one of Garg’s friends when the singer entered the water for the second time without a life jacket, noting that Garg appeared intoxicated and should not swim without safety gear. He also told the court that he jumped into the water and swam towards Garg after noticing him floating face-down.

Police told the court that witness statements suggested Garg had entered the water voluntarily and that there were no indications of suicidal intent.

The investigation remains ongoing as the court continues to examine the complex chain of events leading to the death of one of Assam’s most beloved cultural figures.

With IANS inputs