The investigation into the mysterious death of Assam’s cultural icon, Zubeen Garg, has intensified, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announcing that a crucial viscera report is expected by October 10. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Sarma underscored the significance of the report in determining the cause of death while simultaneously urging for the return of key Assamese individuals from Singapore who were present during the singer’s final moments on September 19.
The case, which has plunged the state into mourning and sparked widespread public outrage, now hinges on forensic evidence and the cooperation of witnesses currently abroad. Zubeen Garg, 52, a beloved singer and filmmaker, died in what was initially reported as a drowning incident during a yacht outing in Singapore. He was visiting the city-state to perform at the North East India Festival. However, allegations of foul play, negligence, and even a sinister conspiracy have since emerged, leading to a high-profile probe by the Assam Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The Chief Minister has publicly appealed to the Assamese community in Singapore to pressure several individuals, believed to be witnesses, to return to India and cooperate with the investigation. “Our entire concern now is whether the people living in Singapore will come or not. If they do not come, we will not be able to complete the inquiry,” Sarma stated, highlighting the jurisdictional challenges. “Assam Police cannot go to Singapore, so it cannot take up the investigation there… If they don’t come by October 6, we will have to enter another cycle.” Notices have been served to some of these individuals through the Indian High Commission.
The investigation took a dramatic turn with shocking allegations of poisoning made by one of Garg’s own bandmates, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, who has since been arrested. According to official police remand documents, Goswami alleged that festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and Garg’s manager, Siddharth Sharma, “had poisoned the victim and deliberately chosen a foreign venue to conceal their conspiracy.”
In response to these grave claims, CM Sarma has cautioned against premature conclusions, clarifying that the poisoning allegation is a statement from an accused, not a finding of the police. “The viscera examination report… will be available on October 10, and we will know the details by October 11,” Sarma said. “Whether he [Goswami] gave this statement to protect himself or to blame someone else will be revealed during the investigation.”
Latest Developments & Official Actions
The Assam government has escalated its response to the public outcry by forming a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by CID Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta, and appointing a one-man judicial commission led by sitting Gauhati High Court judge, Justice Soumitra Saikia, to ensure an impartial probe.
So far, four key individuals have been arrested and are in 14-day police custody:
- Shyamkanu Mahanta: The chief organiser of the North East India Festival in Singapore. He was arrested at Delhi airport upon his return.
- Siddharth Sharma: Garg’s long-time manager, who was present on the yacht.
- Shekhar Jyoti Goswami: Garg’s bandmate and drummer, who made the poisoning allegations.
- Amritprava Mahanta: A co-singer, also present during the incident.
The CID has added the charge of murder (Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) to the case against Mahanta and Sharma, who were initially booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence.
Meanwhile, the Singapore Police Force has handed over its initial autopsy report to the Indian High Commission, which officially cited “drowning” as the cause of death. A second post-mortem was conducted at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital after Garg’s body was repatriated, and it is the viscera samples from this procedure that are now being analysed.
The Legal Battle and Public Reaction
The case has also moved to the nation’s highest court. Shyamkanu Mahanta has filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India, seeking protection from what he terms a “well calculated witch-hunt” and “media trial.” He has requested that the investigation be transferred from the Assam SIT to a central agency like the CBI or NIA, citing a “surcharged” atmosphere in Assam that prevents a fair probe.
Public sentiment in Assam remains highly emotional, with over 60 FIRs filed across the state by fans and citizens’ groups. The Chief Minister has warned against the spread of misinformation, particularly AI-generated fake images of the accused, stating that his official updates on the case will be delivered directly to the public via Facebook Live to avoid miscommunication.
What to Watch Next
The entire region now awaits the October 10 deadline for the viscera report, which is expected to provide critical forensic evidence. The report could either substantiate or refute the poisoning theory and give a definitive direction to the investigation.
Secondly, the response of the Assamese individuals in Singapore who have been summoned by the CID will be crucial. Their cooperation is deemed essential by the Chief Minister to “join the dots” of the events that transpired on the yacht. Failure to appear could trigger a more complex diplomatic and legal process to ensure their participation.
Finally, the Supreme Court’s decision on Mahanta’s plea will determine which agency ultimately leads this complex, international investigation. As Assam grieves its fallen star, the demand for truth and justice grows louder, placing immense pressure on both the state and national authorities to unravel the full story behind the untimely death of Zubeen Garg.
The Information is Collected from Money Control and News18.
