The death of Assamese icon Zubeen Garg on September 19, 2025, off Lazarus Island in Singapore sent shockwaves through the state. Families of the late singer flooded the Guwahati courts with petitions, demanding a thorough probe.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Assam Criminal Investigation Department filed a charge sheet in December 2025, naming seven accused: festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, manager Siddharth Sharma, bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, singer Amritprabha Mahanta, Sandipan Garg, and personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya.
Sandipan Garg, who had been in judicial custody for more than a year, was granted bail on October 13, 2025, after the court noted procedural lapses during his arrest. He is now charged with culpable homicide, while the others are accused of murder.
A mother of one of the victims, who has lived in Guwahati since childhood, recalls the night of the festival as a “flash of joy turned into sorrow.” She says the community still waits for a verdict that respects her son’s memory.
The court has set a fast‑track hearing for November 5, 2025, to decide the fate of all seven accused. The trial will be conducted in the Guwahati Special Fast‑Track Court, where the prosecution seeks to secure a conviction.