Singapore NRIs Miss Deadline in Zubeen Garg Death Investigation as Assam Invokes International Treaty

The CID has issued summons to eight of the eleven individuals present on the yacht during the incident.

Guwahati:

Monday evening marked the expiration of the deadline for eight Singapore-based Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who were summoned by Assam's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the investigation into celebrated Assamese icon Zubeen Garg's death. None of these individuals appeared before investigators in Guwahati by the specified date.

The Indian High Commission in Singapore had served summons to all eight individuals, requiring them to report by October 6. Investigators hoped their testimonies would provide crucial insights into the circumstances surrounding Garg's unexpected death during a yacht party near Singapore's coastline on September 19.

Despite the no-shows, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that one individual, identified as Rupkamal Kalita, is expected to arrive in Guwahati on Tuesday.

The Chief Minister also confirmed that the state government has requested assistance from Singaporean authorities under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), which facilitates evidence exchange between both countries.

"The investigation team need not go to Singapore. We have a mutual legal assistance treaty, and it has been invoked," Sarma explained. "Whatever evidence Singapore Police collect will be shared with us as per the treaty. We have already sent our request and are waiting for their assistance."

Sarma indicated that while the CID will maintain pressure on the summoned individuals, the investigation would significantly depend on Singapore's cooperation. "We will motivate them to cooperate with us. We believe that if one comes, the others will also follow," he remarked.

The Chief Minister further noted that family members of those summoned had cited various constraints, including claims that Singapore police were preventing them from leaving the country or that their employers had warned of potential job risks if they traveled to India for questioning.

Of the eleven people aboard the yacht with Garg during the incident, the CID has summoned eight. Four individuals have already been arrested in connection with the case: Garg's manager Siddhartha Sharma, musician Shekharjyoti Goswami, singer Amritprava Mahanta, and Northeast India Festival (NEIF) organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta.

Officials have described the investigation as "complex and transnational," extending to examine potential financial irregularities associated with the NEIF, an annual cultural event in Singapore promoting northeastern India.

Sarma confirmed that the state government has requested central agencies—the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (IT) department—to investigate financial dealings related to the festival and its organizer, Mahanta.

"We have already requested ED and IT to conduct their probe on the financial aspects of the Northeast India Festival," Sarma stated. "We rejected all their proposals this year. The last time I personally attended one of their programmes was in 2015."

He emphasized that the Assam government had provided "very little" funding to the festival and asserted that Mahanta had secured most of his financing from other northeastern states.