Assam CM Confirms Zubeen Garg's Death as Murder: Investigation Reveals Shocking Details

Zubeen Garg was in Singapore to participate in the North East India Festival

Guwahati:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday declared singer Zubeen Garg's death was not an "accident" but a "murder". The 52-year-old singer-composer died under mysterious circumstances while swimming in a sea in Singapore on September 19.

"After a preliminary investigation, the Assam Police concluded that it was not a case of culpable homicide, but it was a straightforward murder," Sarma stated while addressing the Assam Assembly during an adjournment motion introduced by the opposition to discuss the singer's death.

"One of the accused murdered Garg, and others assisted him. Four to five individuals are being charged in the murder case," Sarma asserted.

Garg, who was visiting Singapore to participate in the North East India Festival (NEIF), died while swimming in the sea during a yacht excursion.

The Sarma-led administration subsequently established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Assam Police to investigate Garg's death after more than 60 cases were registered across the state.

A one-man inquiry commission, headed by Gauhati High Court's sitting judge, Justice Soumitra Saikia, was also established to investigate the incident.

Subsequently, the NEIF organizer, Shyamkanu Mahanta, the singer's manager, Siddharth Sharma, his two band members -- Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta -- and Garg's cousin, Sandipan Garg, a senior Assam police officer, were arrested for their alleged involvement in the musician's death.

Garg's personal security officers -- Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya -- were also detained after police discovered significant financial transactions, exceeding Rs 1.1 crore, from their accounts.

All seven arrested individuals, currently under judicial custody, were charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence.

Sarma indicated that the SIT will file a "watertight chargesheet, and the motive behind the crime will shock the people of the state".

"After the chargesheet in the murder case is submitted in December, the investigation will be expanded to include negligence, criminal breach of trust and additional aspects," he added.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is also conducting an independent investigation into Garg's death.

On Monday, the commission extended the deadline for recording statements and submission of evidence until December 12.

The commission began recording statements and receiving evidence related to the incident from November 3, with the previous deadline being November 21.