Guwahati

The Assam Congress on Saturday announced the constitution of a committee of senior advocates to closely monitor the investigation and judicial proceedings in the death case of singer Zubeen Garg.

The decision, taken on Thursday, was made public a day after the Assam Cabinet approved the appointment of a five-member team of special public prosecutors (PPs) in the case.

In a statement, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) general secretary (organisation) Bipul Gogoi said APCC president Gaurav Gogoi had constituted the advocates’ panel to keep a watch on the progress of the case.

The committee comprises senior advocates Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury, Ram Prasad Sarmah, Dilip Choudhury, Hamidur Rahman, Hemanta Kalita and Rubi Gogoi.

Earlier, the state government appointed Brojendra Mohan Chaudhuri as additional public prosecutor, while Kishor Dutta, Pranjal Dutta and Vikash Jammar were named assistant public prosecutors.

Zubeen Garg, a noted singer-composer and actor, died while swimming in the sea on September 19 last year in Singapore, where he had gone to attend the North East India Festival.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is probing the case, submitted its charge sheet before a court on December 12.

The SIT has charged festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s secretary Siddhartha Sharma and two band members — Shekharjyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta — with murder. Garg’s cousin and suspended police officer Sandipan Garg has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The singer’s two personal security officers, Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya, have been charged with criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust for alleged misappropriation of entrusted funds or property.

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The Kamrup (Metro) District and Sessions Court is hearing the case, with January 17 fixed as the next date of hearing.