New Delhi: All crucial witnessed in singer Zubeen Garg’s death case will have to be examined within two months, the Supreme Court directed on Monday.
The Court was hearing the bail plea of Shyamkanu Mahanta, the event manager of the concert in Singapore that Garg had gone to attend, when it passed this order. The hearing has been deferred until October.
“We want to see how the trial proceeds. This order will put pressure on them to move ahead with the matter,” the bench of Justice B V Nagarathna and Justice R Mahadevan said, as reported by Hindustan Times.
The Court directed the prosecution to be diligent in prosecuting the case as it heard Mahanta’s bail plea.
Garg died in Singapore last year and Mahanta has been named as an accused. He moved the Supreme Court after the Gauhati High Court denied him bail on May 29.
The Court noted Assam advocate general Devajit Saikia’s submission that the trial is proceeding on a day-to-day basis and crucial witnesses will be examined in the next few weeks. It posted the bail plea for hearing on October 12.
Appearing for Mahanta, senior advocate Siddharth Dave said that his client was not present at the spot where Garg died. He argued it was a case of drowning and pointed out that of 394 witnesses, only 94 have been examined so far.
The eyewitnesses in Singapore have not been examined yet, Dave said. The state is pursuing the case as it is more of an emotive issue and it has given assurance to punish those responsible for the popular singer’s death, he added.
“The accused is an event manager. What is his motive to do away with the singer? He is only organising the events,” the Court wondered while noting a long list of witnesses.
The eyewitnesses will record their statements in the next fortnight, Saikia told the Court. He added that 11 crucial witnesses remain to be examined. The AG said the case involves murder conspiracy, adding that Mahanta’s role is in question, as he threatened to die by suicide if Garg refused to go for the Singapore event.
Mahanta allegedly provided Garg with liquor and allowed him to go for a yacht party even when the doctor advised the singer to remain away from water, Saikia said.
The celebrated singer’s death sparked outrage among his fans, who demanded an independent probe into the circumstances leading to his drowning.
Mahanta moved the Supreme Court to transfer the probe in the case from Assam Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) to a central agency. He requested a court-monitored probe in the matter.
This happened after the SIT charged Mahanta with murder, criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, cheating, and criminal breach of trust under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. A special court is hearing the matter.