HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Dec 16: All seven accused in the high-profile death case of popular Assamese singer Zubeen Garg were produced virtually before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Kamrup Metropolitan, on Tuesday, following the submission of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) chargesheet last week.
The accused were presented through video conferencing after the court accepted the state government’s submission citing security and law-and-order concerns if they were brought physically to court.
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Acting on this, the CJM directed their virtual appearance from different jails to ensure smooth conduct of the proceedings.
During the hearing, copies of the voluminous chargesheet were formally furnished to the accused, who confirmed receipt of the documents.
The SIT had also handed over hard copies of the chargesheet to jail authorities prior to the hearing, while pen drives containing the documents were provided to family members of the accused.
The court also enquired about their health condition, to which the accused responded that they were physically well.
The CJM fixed December 22 as the next date of hearing, when the court is likely to consider committing the case to the Sessions Court.
Once committed, the trial in the sensational case is expected to formally begin.
The SIT chargesheet, running into over 3,500 pages, was filed before the CJM on December 12 after months of investigation.
According to officials, the SIT examined more than 300 witnesses, collected extensive forensic and digital evidence and conducted multiple rounds of interrogation before finalising the chargesheet.
Those charged with murder include festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, the singer’s manager Siddhartha Sarma, bandmate Shekharjyoti Goswami and co-singer Amritprava Mahanta.
Zubeen Garg’s cousin, Sandipan Garg, has been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, while his personal security officers, Nandeshwar Bora and Paresh Baishya, have been charged with criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.
The accused appeared virtually from Baksa Jail and Haflong Jail during Tuesday’s proceedings.
They were represented by advocate Dhrubajyoti Das, appointed by the District Legal Services Authority after the local Bar Association decided that none of its members would take up the defence in the case.
Zubeen Garg had travelled to Singapore to attend the North East India Festival, where he died under mysterious circumstances while swimming in the sea on September 19.
The case has generated widespread public interest and emotional responses across Assam. (With inputs from PTI)
