"Bail does not mean clean chit": Devajit Saikia on Amritprabha, Sandipan’s bail in Zubeen Garg death case

Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia has said the investigation into the case involving Amritprabha Mahanta and Sandipan Garg in connection to Zubeen Garg death case was conducted properly, adding that the state government has decided to challenge the bail granted to them by the Gauhati High Court in the Supreme Court.

“There were no irregularities in the investigation. The investigating officer conducted the probe properly and filed the chargesheet,” Saikia said while responding to questions about the bail orders.

Reacting to advocate Anan Bhuyan’s remark that Amritprabha Mahanta had been given a clean chit, Saikia said that the grant of bail should not be interpreted as an exoneration.

“Bail being granted doesn't mean getting a clean chit,” he said.

Saikia also pointed to alleged discrepancies in the Gauhati High Court’s bail order concerning Mahanta and said the state government had decided to file an appeal against the decision in the Supreme Court.

The proposed appeal is expected to challenge the High Court’s bail decision. Further details regarding the grounds of appeal and the legal proceedings are awaited.

Meanwhile, Assam police will approach the Supreme Court challenging the Gauhati High Court's bail orders for Amritprabha Mahanta and Sandipan Garg in connection with music icon Zubeen Garg's death case, Special DGP CID and Special Investigation Team (SIT) chief Munna Prasad Gupta said on October18.

Speaking to the media, Gupta said the appeals would be filed once the courts reopen after the ongoing holidays. He added that the trial was progressing on a day-to-day basis before a fast-track court, with 134 witnesses examined so far.

"As far as bail granted by the Gauhati High Court to two of the accused persons, Amritprabha Mahanta and Sandipan Garg, it has been decided that we will move to the Supreme Court challenging the order of bail granted to these two accused persons," Gupta said.

"The procedure will happen very soon. Nowadays, the court holidays are going on, and the moment the courts reopen, we will file the appeals," he added.

The Gauhati High Court recently granted bail to Sandipan Garg, a suspended Assam Police Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and cousin of the late singer. He was arrested by the SIT in connection with the case. A single bench of Justice Rajesh Mazumdar granted him bail after hearing his petition.

Amritprabha Mahanta, another accused in the case, had also been granted bail by the High Court. Assam Police's proposed move to challenge both orders comes as the trial continues before the fast-track court.

Zubeen Garg died in Singapore on September 19, 2025, in a scuba-diving incident, a day before he was scheduled to perform at the Northeast India Festival.