Post by : Raman

The Assam Police have registered a murder charge in connection with the death of popular singer Zubeen Garg, who passed away in Singapore on September 19. The singer’s manager, Siddharth Sharma, has been formally accused, following a detailed investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam. The new charge has been added after extensive questioning of both Sharma and festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, who were arrested earlier from Delhi and brought to Guwahati for further investigation.

Zubeen Garg had traveled to Singapore to perform at the North East India Festival (NEIF), an event highlighting the cultural heritage of Northeast India, organized by Mahanta. Following the singer’s death, the Assam Police set up a 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by SDGP Munna Prasad Gupta to probe all aspects of the case. The team is also coordinating with Singaporean authorities under a bilateral treaty to facilitate cross-border investigation and has been waiting for official permissions and documentation from Singapore.

The CID initially registered a case under Sections 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), and 106(1) (causing death by rash or negligent act) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Following further investigation, Section 103 has now been added to the FIR, formally bringing murder charges into the case.

During the investigation, Zubeen Garg’s personal handbag, seized from manager Siddharth Sharma, revealed documents and medicines, which have been sent for forensic testing. Authorities are also awaiting the results of a second autopsy conducted in India. The postmortem report, including forensic details from Singapore, is expected to be shared with the singer’s family.

According to Singapore Police Force (SPF), Zubeen Garg died from drowning near St John’s Island. Reports confirm that he was on a yacht with over a dozen people and was seen jumping into the water twice—once with a life jacket and once without. He was pulled out unconscious and later declared dead at Singapore General Hospital. This conclusion contrasts earlier claims suggesting scuba diving was involved.

In addition to Sharma and Mahanta, two more Assam musicians closely associated with Zubeen Garg, Amritprabha Mahanta and Shekhar Goswami, were arrested after being summoned for questioning. CID officials continue to interrogate other individuals connected to the singer’s unusual death, as doubts remain over the official narrative.

Zubeen’s wife, Garima Garg, who lodged a formal complaint seeking justice, has expressed concern that she has not yet received a copy of the Singapore postmortem report. Authorities are committed to thoroughly investigating every angle, ensuring transparency, and providing closure to the family while maintaining cross-border cooperation between India and Singapore.

The case has generated nationwide attention, highlighting the need for careful scrutiny in high-profile deaths and the importance of international cooperation in criminal investigations.

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