The Gauhati High Court granted bail to Sandipon Garg in the Zubeen Garg death case. His release awaits post-holiday formalities as a separate charge-sheet challenge remains pending.
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Guwahati,Oct 16, 2026 18:24 IST
The Gauhati High Court on Friday granted bail to suspended Assam Police Deputy Superintendent Sandipon Garg, an accused in the case involving singer Zubeen Garg's death, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
Sandipon Garg, a cousin of the singer, has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. He is likely to be released after the Durga Puja holidays once the required formalities are completed.
A single bench of Justice Rajesh Mazumdar granted bail after hearing his petition, senior advocate Anan Kumar Bhuyan, who represented him, told PTI.
"The court has not read out the full order. We are awaiting the detailed judgment to know on what grounds the bail was granted," Bhuyan said.
He said the High Court was separately hearing a petition seeking to quash the charge sheet against Sandipon Garg. Bhuyan added that the court would remain closed from Saturday and some formalities for his release were still pending.
On October 9, the High Court granted bail to another accused, Amrit Prabha Mahanta, against a bond of Rs 50,000 and two sureties of the same amount. She has since been released from jail.
On September 23, a special court granted bail to the singer's two personal security officers, Nandeswar Borah and Paresh Baishya, in a disproportionate assets case. However, they remain in jail in connection with the singer's death.
Zubeen Garg died in Singapore on September 19, 2025, while swimming in the sea. He had travelled to the country to attend the fourth edition of the North East India Festival.
Festival chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, the singer's manager Siddharth Sharma, band member Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, Amrit Prabha Mahanta, Sandipon Garg and the two personal security officers were arrested in connection with the case.
Shyamkanu Mahanta, the prime accused, was charged under eight sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, while Sharma faced seven charges. Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta faced six charges each, the two security officers faced two charges each, and Sandipon Garg faced one charge.
The accused were booked under provisions relating to murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy and causing death by negligence.
A Special Investigation Team of the Assam Police's Criminal Investigation Department investigated the singer's death after more than 60 FIRs were registered across the state, according to PTI.
The Singapore Police Force conducted a separate investigation and concluded that there was no evidence of foul play. A Coroner's Court in Singapore also ruled out foul play, finding that the singer-songwriter was severely intoxicated and drowned off Lazarus Island after declining a life jacket.
Authorities in Assam maintained that the findings of the Singapore investigation would not affect the case in the state. Sandipon Garg has now secured bail, while his petition seeking to quash the charge sheet is being heard separately.
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