Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday made a sensational statement in the state Assembly, claiming that popular singer Zubeen Garg’s death in Singapore was “not an accident” but “plain murder”. Garg, 52, died on September 19 while swimming in the sea during a yacht trip, a day after reaching Singapore to participate in the North East India Festival (NEIF).
Sarma made the remarks during an adjournment motion moved by the opposition seeking a detailed discussion on the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death. The chief minister ruled out “culpable homicide” or “criminal conspiracy”, asserting instead that the incident amounted to outright murder.
Following widespread outrage and over 60 police complaints filed across Assam, the state government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the CID to probe Garg’s death. Additionally, a one-man inquiry commission headed by Gauhati High Court judge Justice Soumitra Saikia was appointed to conduct an independent investigation.
Within days of the SIT’s formation, police arrested NEIF organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma, band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta, and the singer’s cousin Sandipan Garg, a senior Assam police officer, for their suspected roles in the case. The arrests came after investigators uncovered multiple inconsistencies and suspicious details linked to the group’s movements.
Two of Garg’s personal security officers, Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya, were also arrested after police allegedly detected financial transactions amounting to over ₹1.1 crore in their accounts.
All seven accused are currently in judicial custody and face charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence.
Meanwhile, the Singapore Police Force is conducting its own investigation into the circumstances of the singer’s death.
The inquiry commission, which began recording statements and collecting evidence on November 3, has extended the deadline for submissions to December 12. The earlier deadline was November 21.