Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday made a striking revelation in the Legislative Assembly, stating that the death of celebrated singer Zubeen Garg was not accidental but a deliberate act of murder. Garg, 52, died in Singapore on September 19 while swimming during a yacht outing connected to the North East India Festival.
Responding to an adjournment motion raised by the Opposition, Sarma said that the initial findings of Assam Police eliminated the possibility of culpable homicide and indicated a clear act of murder. He claimed that one individual allegedly committed the crime while others played supporting roles, adding that four to five people are likely to be charged.
Amid widespread public outrage and over 60 FIRs filed across the state, the government formed a Special Investigation Team under the Criminal Investigation Department to probe the circumstances surrounding Garg’s death. A separate inquiry panel led by Justice Soumitra Saikia of the Gauhati High Court is also conducting an independent examination, with the deadline for recording evidence extended until 12 December.
Several individuals linked to Garg and the event in Singapore were earlier arrested, including festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, the singer’s manager Siddharth Sharma, band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta, and Garg’s cousin, senior police officer Sandipan Garg. His personal security officers, Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya, were also taken into custody after investigators detected unexplained financial transactions exceeding ₹1.1 crore in their accounts.
All seven accused remain in judicial custody and face charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including murder, criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and causing death by negligence. Sarma said the SIT is preparing a strong chargesheet, expected to be submitted in December, and hinted that the motive behind the killing would be deeply unsettling.
He further stated that once the initial report is submitted, the investigation will widen to scrutinise alleged negligence and financial irregularities surrounding the case. Meanwhile, Singapore Police continue to conduct their own parallel investigation into the circumstances of Garg’s death.
