'Assam's strong legal stand kept Zubeen Garg case accused behind bars for over a year': AG

The Supreme Court on Friday (November 6) deferred the hearing on the bail pleas of Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddharth Sharma, two key accused in the Zubeen Garg death case, after the matters involving co-accused Amritprabha Mahanta and Sandipon Garg could not be taken up.

The apex court will now hear all four petitions together on November 30, Assam Advocate General Devajit Lon Saikia said.

Speaking to the media, Saikia said the bail pleas of Mahanta and Sharma would be heard alongside the Assam government's petitions challenging the Gauhati High Court's orders granting bail to Amritprabha Mahanta and Sandipon Garg.

He said the state government had informed the Supreme Court that the trial in the Zubeen Garg death case was progressing on a day-to-day basis.

Emphasising the government's legal efforts, Saikia said the two key accused had remained behind bars for more than a year because of the state's strong stand in the case.

"Generally, accused persons in cases of this nature get bail within three months. However, the accused in this case have remained in jail for over a year," he said.

The Advocate General asserted that the Assam government was working resolutely to ensure justice for Zubeen Garg.

He also appealed to the public to maintain faith in the judiciary, saying the government was pursuing the case with determination.

The November 30 hearing is expected to be significant as the Supreme Court will consider both the bail pleas of Mahanta and Sharma and the state government's challenge to the bail granted to the other two accused.