Court rejects bail to Zubeen’s manager, cites risk of fleeing

Guwahati: The fast-track court set up to try the Zubeen Garg death case has rejected bail for Siddharth Sharma, one of seven accused, citing risk of influencing witnesses, hampering further progress of the case and flying out, if released.

Siddharth, the singer’s manager, was on the yacht when Zubeen died while swimming in the sea on Sept 19 last year in Singapore, where the singer had gone to attend and perform at the fourth edition of the North East India Festival.

Fast-track court judge Sharmila Bhuyan had on April 30 rejected the bail petition of festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, citing risk of fleeing.

On April 29, the court ordered freezing of six bank accounts either held by Siddharth or operated by him after he failed to substantiate his plea of denial by producing any income source document or income tax filing return to legitimise large deposits in the accounts.

In its order released Monday, the court said it evaluated evidence and materials collected by the investigating agency against Siddharth, along with his conduct of absconding by changing his place of stay immediately after arriving in India following the incident. The court said it considered “the entire facts and circumstances right from the beginning till end leading to the death of Zubeen in drowning in sea water due to heavy intoxication” before deciding the bail plea.

The court stated, “I am constrained to hold that this is not a fit case to grant bail in favour of Siddharth as there are strong incriminating materials against him of his commission of the offence alleged against him and if he released on bail, there is possibilities of influencing the witnesses and hampering of the further progress of the case and there is every possibilities of fly away. accordingly bail prayer of Siddharth is rejected.”

“Upon perusal of the entire material on record,” the judge said it “clearly appeared” Siddharth had first-hand information about the singer’s health issues and had a duty to “look after, monitor and manage” him, but took him to Singapore without a prior medical check-up “as required,” did not comply with doctors’ directions, allowed him to drink, and “last minute changed room arrangement of deceased with Amritprava Mahanta.” The court said Siddharth did not inform others about restrictions and directions given by the doctor and “let deceased to enter sea water under influence of heavy alcohol.”

The court also said it “clearly appeared” Siddharth misappropriated a large amount of the deceased’s money and invested it in his own profit business. The court noted Siddharth kept the singer’s belongings until police seized them after his arrest and did not appear before the investigating agency soon after arriving in India on Sept 20 last year.