Guwahati: In a significant development concerning the investigation into the mysterious death of celebrated singer Zubeen Garg, the families of three individuals accused in the case have officially approached the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in Guwahati for immediate legal assistance. This move comes after the families alleged that their loved ones have been repeatedly denied legal representation during critical court proceedings. On Wednesday, the DLSA office received a formal request for aid from Anita Deka Mahanta, the wife of accused Shyamkanu Mahanta. Similar requests were simultaneously lodged on behalf of Siddharth Sharma’s girlfriend and Shekhar Jyoti Goswami’s wife, both of whom are also linked to the high-profile case.
The core of the families’ grievance is the reported absence of legal counsel during prior court hearings, which they assert has left the accused without adequate defense. Although the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) had previously issued directives mandating that the accused be provided with legal aid via the Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC), the families claim that no lawyer has yet stepped forward to officially represent their case. Consequently, feeling they had exhausted other avenues, the families made a direct appeal to the Legal Services Authority, stressing the urgent need for intervention to safeguard the fundamental right of the accused to a fair and just trial.
Furthermore, the family members have also moved a separate petition before the CJM court, formally requesting permission to visit the three accused—Shyamkanu, Siddharth, and Shekhar—who are presently incarcerated. They contend that, despite multiple attempts and the need to connect with the jailed individuals, they have been consistently denied visitation rights up until this point. While these petitions and appeals for legal support have been filed, the DLSA has not yet released an official statement in response to the families’ demand for prompt and equitable legal support.
