Guwahati, March 2: The Kamrup Metropolitan District and Sessions Court on Monday, March 2, directed the immediate unfreezing of the bank account of accused Shyamkanu Mahanta, citing procedural lapses and non-compliance with statutory provisions in the ongoing investigation into the death of Zubeen Garg.
During the hearing, the court observed that the prosecution had failed to follow due procedure while freezing Mahanta’s account and did not comply with Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Pointing to these legal shortcomings, the court ordered that the account be restored without delay, reiterating the need for strict adherence to procedural safeguards even in cases involving serious financial allegations.
The issue of procuring documents from Singapore in connection with accused Siddharth Sharma also came up during the proceedings. The court noted that investigating authorities had already obtained and submitted several documents from Singapore along with the chargesheet. However, it clarified that under the BNSS, it does not have the authority to directly summon documents from a foreign jurisdiction. If additional records are required, the Government of India would have to initiate a formal request through appropriate diplomatic or legal channels.
The case is linked to Mahavir Aqua, a packaged drinking water company jointly owned by Siddharth Sharma and his business partner Chetan Dhirachariya. The matter has been listed for further hearing on March 19, which will also be the next date in the main case.
According to the police report, Sharma allegedly invested ₹1.1 crore in Mahavir Aqua. Investigators have claimed that during interrogation, he admitted the funds were sourced from money allegedly embezzled from Garg’s income. In a related direction, the court ruled that Sharma must deposit a bank demand draft of ₹16 lakh at the CID police station if he seeks to have his seized flat reopened. Police have alleged that he misappropriated ₹16 lakh belonging to Garg and used the amount to purchase the property.
Reacting to the developments, Garima Saikia Garg said the family had not been informed about the progress of proceedings in the fast-track court and remained unaware of the current status of the case. She described the order unfreezing Mahanta’s bank account as disappointing and noted that in the Mahavir Aqua matter as well, similar relief had earlier been granted due to procedural irregularities.
With the next hearing scheduled for March 19, the case continues to attract attention over allegations of financial misconduct, cross-border documentation issues and repeated scrutiny of investigative procedures.
