Assam Govt’s arguments in Zubeen’s case open

Advocate General Devajit Saikia on Friday opened the Assam Government’s arguments in charge framing hearing before the special fast-track court in the Zubeen Garg death case.

He said the Government side is likely to take six to seven days time to place its arguments to ensure that no loopholes are left. Talking to reporters after appearing before the court, Saikia said, “Charge framing hearing has been going on for the last 15 days now.

I commenced the arguments on behalf of the Assam Government side, and it will be taken forward by our team.” He said a “technical issue” was raised in the court by some of the defence lawyers regarding the sanction received by the Assam Government from the Centre, as the case involves Garg’s death in Singapore.” “I placed our counter (argument) that there were no lapses in taking the sanction.

It is now for the honourable court to decide on it,” Saikia said. On the rest of the charges in the case, he said special public prosecutor Ziaur Kamar and his team will place the arguments.

“It will take six to seven days time as we want to ensure there is no lapse and no point is left unaddressed,” the advocate general added.

Garg had drowned while swimming off Lazarus Island on September 19, a day before he was slated to perform at the North East India Festival in Singapore.

A Special Investigation Team of Assam Police’s CID probed the death and filed its charge sheet before a sessions court here in December, naming seven accused.

Four of them are facing murder charges.

The special sessions fast-track court is now hearing the case on a daily basis. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in the state Assembly in November that Garg’s death was a case of “plain and simple murder”.

Singapore Police, which has carried out a separate probe, has concluded that there is no evidence of foul play.

Authorities in Assam, however, maintained that it will not impact the case here in any manner.