Assam Police will challenge the Gauhati High Court’s bail orders for Amritprabha Mahanta and Sandipon Garg in the Zubeen Garg death case before the Supreme Court after the courts reopen. The decision marks a fresh development in the high-profile case involving the death of the popular Assamese singer in Singapore in September 2025.
India News
Special Director General of Police (CID) and Special Investigation Team (SIT) chief Munna Prasad Gupta confirmed the decision on October 18. He said the trial was progressing on a day-to-day basis, with 134 witnesses examined so far.
Assam Police plan Supreme Court challenge
Assam Police have decided to challenge the bail granted to both accused by the Gauhati High Court. According to Gupta, the state police will approach the Supreme Court once the courts reopen.
The proposed appeal comes as the trial continues before a special fast-track court in Guwahati. The proceedings have drawn considerable public attention because of Garg’s cultural influence and the circumstances surrounding his death.
However, the decision to challenge the bail orders does not mean the accused have been found guilty. The Supreme Court will have to consider the grounds raised by the state if it files the challenge.
Moreover, the proposed move brings the bail dispute to a possible new stage in the judicial process. Until the Supreme Court considers the matter, the existing bail orders remain subject to the applicable legal process.
Why Assam Police oppose the bail orders
The police decision follows separate bail orders involving Mahanta and Garg. Mahanta, a singer and one of the accused in the case, received bail from the Gauhati High Court on October 9.
The court granted her bail against a bond of Rs 50,000 and two sureties of the same amount. She had remained in custody for about a year after her arrest in October 2025.
Meanwhile, the High Court granted bail to suspended Assam Police Deputy Superintendent of Police Sandipon Garg, who is also the deceased singer’s cousin. His bail order came shortly before the police announced their plan to approach the Supreme Court.
The state’s planned challenge will seek judicial scrutiny of the relief granted to both accused. However, the detailed grounds for the proposed appeal were not specified in the police announcement reported on October 18.
What the High Court said about Mahanta
In its October 9 order, the Gauhati High Court examined the evidence collected during the investigation and the testimony recorded during the trial.
The court observed that the materials available at that stage did not establish a prima facie case of conspiracy and murder against Mahanta. It also noted that the witness statements and other records did not adequately support the allegations attributed to her.
Additionally, the court considered the length of her detention and the progress of the trial while deciding her bail application.
The judge made clear that these observations applied only to the bail decision. They did not determine the final question of guilt or innocence, which remains for the ongoing trial to decide.
Mahanta must comply with the bail conditions imposed by the court. These include cooperating with the remaining trial, avoiding interference with evidence and witnesses, and obtaining permission before travelling abroad.
Zubeen Garg death case continues
Garg died in Singapore on September 19, 2025, while visiting the country for a music festival. His death triggered widespread grief across Assam and prompted complaints and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Assam Police CID and the Special Investigation Team subsequently investigated the case. The prosecution has alleged a conspiracy connected to the singer’s death, while the accused are entitled to contest those allegations through the judicial process.
The case has since moved into trial, with witnesses examined before the special court. The examination of 134 witnesses, as reported by the SIT chief on October 18, indicates the scale of the proceedings.
Nevertheless, the number of witnesses examined does not itself establish the guilt of any accused. The court must assess the evidence and arguments presented by both sides before reaching its final decision.
Assam Police await next legal step
The proposed Supreme Court challenge is the latest development in a case that continues to command attention across Assam. The state police intend to contest the bail granted to Mahanta and Sandipon Garg while the trial proceeds.
Once the courts reopen, the police are expected to pursue the challenge through the appropriate legal process. The Supreme Court’s consideration, if the appeal is filed, will determine whether any further directions concerning the bail orders are warranted.
Meanwhile, the trial remains central to establishing the facts surrounding Garg’s death. The proceedings will continue to examine the prosecution’s allegations and the defence responses.
For now, the police announcement signals a fresh legal contest over bail, not a final judgment on the charges. The outcome of any Supreme Court proceedings and the evidence tested during trial will shape the next stages of the case.
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