Guwahati, 15 May (HS): The hearing on the bail petition of Shyamkanu Mahanta, the prime accused in the high-profile murder case linked to singer Zubeen Garg, could not be completed on Friday before the bench of Justice Mitali Thakuria at the Gauhati High Court.

The court has now fixed 22 May as the next date for hearing on Mahanta’s bail plea. The matter continues to remain under close public scrutiny due to the sensitive and high-profile nature of the case.

Earlier this week, Mahanta’s bail petition had been rejected by the single bench of Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia on 13 May. Prior to that, the Fast Track Court had also dismissed his bail plea on 30 April after reserving its order following detailed arguments on the chargesheet submitted in April.

Sources said Mahanta’s legal team had subsequently completed the required legal formalities at the registrar’s office of the Gauhati High Court before moving the fresh plea.

Another accused in the case, Siddharth Sharma, had also been denied bail earlier. The proceedings in the case continue to attract widespread attention across Assam.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash