The legal proceedings connected to the death of Zubeen Garg have entered a new phase. The Supreme Court of India has issued notice on a bail petition filed by event organiser Shyam Kanu Mahanta. The case relates to the investigation into Garg’s death during a yacht trip in Singapore in September 2025. A bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Joymalya Bagchi has directed the State of Assam to respond. The notice has been made returnable by the end of July.
Bail plea filed after High Court rejection
As reported by Live Law, the accused organiser approached the Supreme Court after the Gauhati High Court rejected his bail plea on May 29. Mahanta has been in custody since October 1, 2025. His arrest is linked to the ongoing investigation into the incident. During the hearing, Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave argued in favour of bail. He stated, “Person dies of drowning. There is no flight risk, I don’t have money, my passport is deposited,” while requesting release from custody. The defence maintained that there was no risk of absconding.
Prosecution allegations and case framework
Investigators have not treated the incident as an accidental drowning. Instead, they have described it as part of a broader alleged conspiracy. The chargesheet includes multiple sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. These include provisions related to murder, culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy, cheating, extortion, criminal breach of trust, and destruction of evidence. Authorities have alleged that the organiser played a role in facilitating conditions that contributed to the incident during the Singapore yacht outing.
Safety concerns and investigation claims
The prosecution has alleged that Zubeen Garg was taken on a yacht trip despite known medical concerns. It has been stated that he suffered from epilepsy. It has also been claimed that he had undergone treatment for alcohol de-addiction. Officials further stated that he had been medically advised to avoid alcohol, fire exposure, and water-related activities. Despite this, arrangements were allegedly made for a yacht outing where alcohol was served. The event was linked to the North East India Festival organised in Singapore.The Gauhati High Court had earlier rejected the bail plea, citing prima facie evidence of involvement in the alleged conspiracy. It observed that adequate safety measures were not in place during the yacht trip. The court also noted concerns about witness tampering and the possibility of absconding. The High Court referred to nearly 394 witnesses in the case. It also stated that the matter was still at the stage of charge consideration. The court held that custody of about eight months did not amount to prolonged detention. A special court has already been set up to conduct the trial proceedings.
Legacy of Zubeen Garg
Zubeen Garg was a widely respected musician, composer, and performer. He worked extensively in Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi music industries. He was regarded as a major cultural figure in Indian music. He passed away at the age of 52 in September 2025 after a drowning incident near Lazarus Island in Singapore. He was in the country as part of a cultural delegation for the North East India Festival.
