The Supreme Court has sought a response from the State on a bail plea filed by Northeast Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, an accused in the drowning death case of Zubeen Garg, a renowned Assam-based singer.
Mahanta, who has been organising the Northeast Festival since 2013, submitted that he had been falsely implicated following Zubeen Garg‘s death while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19, 2025.
He said that he was holidaying with family and friends on a yacht at the time of the incident.
Mahanta has been in custody for nearly 9 months in connection with the case.
Bail Plea Hearing
A Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice on the plea.
The Court directed the matter to be posted for hearing at the end of July 2026, after the State accepted notice.
They queried whether there was any flight risk if Mahanta were to be released on bail.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Mahanta, submitted that there was none and informed the Court that his passport had already been deposited.
The case stems from the death of singer Zubeen Garg, who drowned under alleged mysterious circumstances while swimming in Singaporean seas.
Investigation and Charges
Following the incident, multiple first information reports were registered alleging offences including criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide not amounting to murder against Mahanta and others.
Mahanta has also separately approached the Supreme Court seeking transfer of the investigation to an independent agency and consolidation of reports, alleging that he has been falsely implicated and subjected to a coordinated criminal process across several states.
Related: The Evolution and Importance of Pharmacy
He had claimed that over 50 reports have been filed against him and that public statements by authorities, media coverage and threats against him have prejudiced the investigation.
According to the plea, the incident occurred in Singapore, where authorities concluded that the death was due to drowning with no evidence of foul play.
However, subsequent inquiries led to the registration of cases in India and the arrest of multiple individuals, including Mahanta.
The Supreme Court will hear the matter again at the end of July 2026.
Mahanta’s lawyer has submitted that he is not a flight risk and has cooperated with the investigation.
Next Steps
The State has been directed to respond to the bail plea, and the matter will be heard again in July 2026.
The investigation into the death of Zubeen Garg is ongoing, and the Supreme Court’s decision on the bail plea will be key in determining the next steps in the case.
For more information on the Indian legal system, visit the Indian judiciary page on Wikipedia.
It is ongoing.
Mahanta’s case has sparked interest and debate, with many following the developments closely, seeking protection and services during this period.