Guwahati, Nov 6 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said the state government will bring to the notice of the Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court threats by a group to gherao his residence if bail is granted to two prime accused in the Zubeen Garg death case.
Addressing a press conference here, the chief minister said the threat given by a group led by a legislator poses a “danger to my family and could amount to a direct attempt to murder”.
The state government honours court orders, and those questioning them are trying to create disturbances in the state, he asserted, adding that the Supreme Court will hear bail petitions of prime accused Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddhartha Sharma on November 30.
“Courts will ensure justice. I want to tell those questioning me about bail for an accused to remember that what I said in the state assembly is also reflected in the chargesheet.”
The Gauhati High Court granted bail to singer Amritprava Mahanta, an accused in the Zubeen Garg death case, on October 9 against a bond of Rs 50,000 and two sureties of the same amount. It has also granted bail to Sandipan Garg in the case.
Referring to the high court order granting bail to Amritprava Mahanta, Sarma said it mentioned that 160 witnesses had not named her during the hearing, although they had done so during the investigation conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
“People should question the witnesses, not me. The court should be allowed to do its work,” he said.
The chief minister said the call by a group led by an MLA to gherao his residence if bail was granted to Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddhartha Sharma was a “serious matter”.
He said he had asked the legal department to bring the matter to the notice of the courts.
“They are not saying that they will protest near the chief minister’s office but his residence, which is a threat to my family and could amount to a direct attempt to murder,” he said.
He said those questioning the judicial process should approach the Supreme Court or the high court instead of targeting him.
“Those asking such questions or threatening to gherao his residence do not understand democracy,” he said.
Protests could be held outside the state secretariat, district commissioner offices and police stations, where grievances could be addressed, but threats to gherao his residence amounted to a “conspiracy to create unrest in the state”, Sarma alleged.
“An atmosphere has been created by a section that the two accused will be granted bail, but I received news that the next hearing will be held on November 30,” Sarma said.
The court should be allowed to do its work, and those asking questions on the judicial process are trying to obstruct the path of justice, he said.
“The orders of the Supreme Court, whether good or bad, must be accepted by the people. The Supreme Court is not under the state government,” Sarma added.
The Zubeen Garg Nyay Samiti, led by Raijor Dal MLA Akhil Gogoi, had said on Thursday that they would gherao the chief minister’s residence if Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddhartha Sharma were granted bail or if the state government failed to mount an effective legal opposition.
The Samiti adopted three major resolutions urging the state government to take steps to oppose the bail petitions of Mahanta and Sharma, seek cancellation of bail granted to the two accused and demand exemplary punishment for all accused in the case.
Zubeen Garg died in Singapore on September 19 last year while swimming in the sea, and the police of that country had said that no foul play was involved in his death. He was in Singapore to attend the fourth edition of the North East India Festival (NEIF).
Besides Amritprava Mahanta and Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, NEIF chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, the singer’s manager Siddharth Sharma, cousin and since-suspended Assam Police DSP Sandipan Garg, and personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya are accused in the case.
(PTI News)
