The Zubeen Garg death case has reached the judicial stage, and the accused appeared via video link

Guwahati: The Kamrup (Metro) Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday began proceedings in the Zubeen Garg death case, marking its shift from investigation to trial.

All seven accused appeared via video conferencing after the Assam Police Criminal Investigation Department(CID) warned of potential law-and-order issues if they were produced physically.

Government advocate Pradip Konwar said the court initially ordered physical production but allowed virtual appearance following a special plea by the CID citing security concerns.

The court clarified that virtual production applies only at the preliminary stage and emphasized maintaining legal procedure while preventing public unrest.

The hearing followed the Special Investigation Team filing a nearly 12,000-page chargesheet last week.

Tuesday marked the first formal appearance of the accused before the magistrate after the SIT submitted the chargesheet.

The SIT said the incident occurred on September 19, 2025, at a seaside location in Singapore, where Garg remained unconscious for nearly 75 minutes before medical help arrived.

The chargesheet claimed excessive alcohol consumption during a late-night gathering and a subsequent yacht outing. The SIT named seven accused, assigning roles from supplying alcohol to encouraging risky behaviour at sea.

It alleged that Shyamkanu Mahanta supplied alcohol while Amritprava Mahanta ensured its continued consumption throughout the night.

Investigators said the accused recorded critical moments on video and images, which were later recovered from their mobile phones. The chargesheet accused Siddharth Sharma of provoking Garg to enter the sea while intoxicated and Shekhar Jyoti Goswami of facilitating his entry without a life jacket.

The SIT also charged suspended police officer Sandipan Garg, a relative of the singer, under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Sources said Sandipan Garg may turn approver, pending court approval. Five accused remain lodged in Baksa district jail, while two are held at Haflong sub-jail in Dima Hasao district.

The prosecution said all accused must appear physically once the case moves to the sessions court under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Meanwhile, Singapore authorities are nearing completion of a parallel investigation, with the coroner’s report expected in January 2026.

The Singapore Coroner’s Court will determine whether Garg’s death was accidental or homicidal, a decision that could carry significant weight even if not binding on Indian courts.

The case now spans two jurisdictions, with the Indian and Singapore investigations running in parallel and judicial outcomes still pending