Zubeen Garg's wife and sister met Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya seeking intervention in the death case. Their appeal underscores concerns over bail and demands coordinated prosecution for a speedy trial.Image used for representational purposes onlyGuwahati,Oct 28, 2026 22:32 ISTFamily members of singer Zubeen Garg have urged Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya to ensure effective prosecution, oppose bail applications filed by the accused and expedite the trial in the case related to his death, news agency Press Trust of India reported.Garg died under mysterious circumstances while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19, 2025.
He had travelled there to attend the fourth edition of the North East India Festival.His wife, Garima Saikia Garg, and sister, Palme Borthakur, met the governor at Lok Bhavan in Guwahati on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum seeking his intervention. They were accompanied by prominent personalities from the Assamese film industry.The family said the Assam government had constituted a Special Investigation Team and the investigating agency had filed its charge sheet.
However, the case had entered a crucial stage of judicial proceedings that required sustained commitment and prompt legal action. According to the memorandum, the Gauhati High Court's recent decision to grant bail to two accused had caused “considerable anguish and apprehension” within the family.
While respecting judicial independence, the family urged the state government to challenge bail orders before a higher court wherever sufficient legal grounds existed.“The Government of Assam has stated its intention to challenge the recent bail orders before the Supreme Court. We earnestly expect that this decision will be translated into prompt and effective legal action,” the memorandum said.
According to PTI, North East India Festival chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg's manager Siddharth Sharma, band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta, his cousin and suspended Assam Police deputy superintendent Sandipon Garg, and his personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya were arrested in connection with the case.The family expressed particular concern over the bail applications of Mahanta and Sharma, who face serious allegations. It urged the government to take every legally permissible step to oppose their pleas and challenge bail orders already granted without avoidable delay.The memorandum sought a unified prosecution coordination mechanism under the Assam Advocate General to monitor proceedings before the designated fast-track court, the Gauhati High Court and the Supreme Court.
It also called for the timely filing of appeals and better coordination between the investigating agency and prosecutors.The family sought measures to strengthen the prosecution, including the proper presentation of documentary, forensic and digital evidence, protection of witnesses and prevention of interference with evidence. It also asked the government to provide all necessary support for a fair, thorough and speedy trial before the designated fast-track court.The memorandum flagged reports of alleged financial irregularities and suspected criminal activities involving some of the accused.
These included the reported recovery of official seals and stamps of government departments and multiple PAN cards, as well as allegations of misappropriation of Garg's earnings and diversion of funds. The family requested a thorough investigation and prosecution of all such allegations.“Justice for Zubeen should transcend political differences and remain a shared commitment to truth, fairness and the rule of law,” the memorandum said.
It added that the appeal was not directed against any individual or institution and did not seek to interfere with the judiciary's independent functioning.The family also urged that the collective demand for justice remain peaceful and dignified, without any activity that could undermine the judicial process.Mahanta faces charges under eight sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, while seven charges have been listed against Sharma. Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta face six charges each, Bora and Baishya face two each, and Sandipon Garg faces one charge.The accused were booked under provisions related to murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy and causing death by negligence.
Sandipon Garg and Amritprava Mahanta have secured bail and were released from jail earlier this month.The Assam Police's Criminal Investigation Department formed the SIT after more than 60 first information reports were lodged across the state. 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, stating that Garg was severely intoxicated and drowned off Lazarus Island after declining a life jacket.
Authorities in Assam, however, maintained that the findings of the Singapore investigation would not affect the case in the state.The family's memorandum sought coordinated prosecution, prompt challenges to bail orders, investigation of the other allegations and a fair and speedy trial, while calling for the demand for justice to remain peaceful and respectful of the judicial process.- Ends