Court defers Zubeen case charge hearing again; 2 more seek bail

Guwahati: The Kamrup (Metro) sessions court on Saturday again deferred the hearing on consideration of charges in the Zubeen Garg alleged murder case after the special public prosecutor submitted that the prosecution would begin arguments only after disposal of multiple petitions on non-supply of copies to the accused.Sessions judge G Baruah allowed the prosecution’s plea and fixed Jan 30 for production, objections and hearing on objections to four petitions concerning supply of documents, while remanding the seven accused in further judicial custody till then. The accused were produced from jail through video conferencing.“The case is also fixed today for hearing on consideration of charge. Learned special PP verbally submitted that after disposing of the petition relating to non-supply of copies to the accused persons, prosecution will start hearing on consideration of charge and accordingly prays to allow the same. Considered and allowed,” judge Baruah stated in his order.The case, first listed for charge consideration on Jan 3, was deferred to Jan 17 after the public prosecutor sought time citing the voluminous chargesheet and documents.Three of the petitions were filed by prime accused Shyamkanu Mahanta seeking supply of documents, de-freezing of his bank account frozen during investigation, and copies of non-relied-upon documents. The fourth petition was filed by Shekhar Jyoti Goswami seeking videography of the search and seizure of property and articles.Bail petitions dominated Saturday’s proceedings, with prime accused Shyamkanu Mahanta and the singer’s former PSO Nandeswar Borah seeking release, taking the total number of bail applications before the court to five. The court will hear the five bail applications on Jan 22.Zubeen’s former manager Siddharth Sharma and bandmember Shekhar Jyoti Goswami are the only accused who are yet to move bail. On Jan 3, Zubeen’s cousin brother and Assam Police official Sandipon Garg, along with the singer’s PSO Paresh Baishya, filed bail petitions through legal aid defence counsels. On the same day, Zubeen’s co-singer and accused Amritprava Mahanta also moved for bail through her private counsel.The judge allowed defence counsel for Shyamkanu and Siddharth to conduct proceedings via video link, with the condition that hearings will not be suspended in case of link failure and that trial and evidence recording must be attended physically.Senior advocate Ziaul Kamar appeared as special public prosecutor on Saturday following the Jan 13 govt notification based on a cabinet decision to set up a five-member panel of special PPs to drive the prosecution.The court also took note of a petition by accused Sekhar Jyoti Goswami stating he is suffering from thyroid disorder and high cholesterol and has not undergone any medical tests since March 26 last year. The plea sought directions for proper treatment. The court allowed the prayer and directed jail authorities to provide all necessary medical care to Goswami as required.