Amid ongoing legal proceedings related to the death of Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg, Anita Deka Mahanta on April 22 strongly defended her husband, Shyamkanu Mahanta, asserting that he has no involvement in the case and that the family is also seeking justice.
Speaking to the media, Anita said Mahanta’s bail plea was being heard in a fast-track sessions court in Guwahati and expressed hope that he would receive relief. She alleged that her husband has been “wrongly incarcerated” for the past seven months. “Innocent people have been put behind bars. He has been in jail for no fault of his,” she said.
She further added that Mahanta had been actively working to promote Assam and the cultural heritage of the Northeast at global platforms. Referring to Zubeen Garg, she remarked that the singer would have been “deeply hurt” by the current developments. “A person who shared his vision and worked closely with him is now behind bars. I pray that we also get justice,” she said.
Rejecting allegations of negligence, Anita questioned the basis of the accusations. “How can this be termed negligence? Is taking someone to perform on a global stage negligence?” she asked.
She also denied claims that Garg had expressed distress or coercion regarding his travel before his death. “When did he say that? Who heard it, and is there any proof?” she said. Emphasising Garg’s independence, she added, “No one could force him to act against his will. He always did what he believed in.”
Clarifying details about the Singapore visit, Anita stated that Garg had travelled to represent the Northeast and not for any individual. She said he was staying at a reputed hotel with medical facilities nearby and that there was no confirmed plan for him to attend any private event.
She also noted that Mahanta was about 50 kilometres away attending a meeting at the time and had no prior knowledge of any such engagement.
Meanwhile, the fast-track sessions court in Guwahati, presided over by Judge Sharmila Bhuyan, continued hearing Mahanta’s bail plea. Senior advocate Pran Bora is expected to represent him.
The bail application of co-accused Siddharth Sharma was not taken up due to discrepancies in the petition. The court granted 24 hours to file a revised application.
Mahanta had earlier withdrawn his previous bail plea, indicating a change in legal strate