The legal proceedings surrounding the mysterious death of legendary singer Zubeen Garg have ignited a fierce political firestorm in Assam. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi issued a scathing indictment of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on December 19, alleging that the recently filed chargesheet is less about a pursuit of justice and more a calculated attempt at “character assassination.” Likening the late artist to the majestic Kanchanjunga, Gogoi asserted that the Chief Minister’s primary objective is to tarnish the singer’s enduring legacy. The MP further cautioned that authorities might resort to extreme measures, including the potential blackmail of the singer’s family and supporters, to achieve these political ends.
This escalation coincides with a deepening legal conflict involving Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has lodged a formal complaint against the Sivasagar legislator for allegedly disseminating “unverified” documents on social media. While the MLA claimed the documents were part of the official chargesheet, authorities have labeled the act illegal, arguing that such actions mislead the public and create unnecessary confusion. Legal experts have noted a procedural anomaly in the situation; while the accused and their relatives have received copies of the documents, the court has reportedly not yet released certified copies to other applicants. Despite battling severe illness, Akhil Gogoi has expressed his intention to travel to Guwahati to face the allegations.
The SIT, directed by Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta, submitted the comprehensive chargesheet to the Kamrup (Metro) Chief Judicial Magistrate on December 12. The findings implicate seven individuals in connection with the singer’s death on September 19, which occurred under mysterious circumstances while he was swimming in the sea during the North East India Festival in Singapore. Among those facing the gravest allegations are Garg’s secretary Siddhartha Sharma, festival organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta, and band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta, all of whom have been charged with murder.
The charges extend beyond the act of violence, uncovering a complex web of alleged criminal activity. Shyamkanu Mahanta faces additional counts of criminal conspiracy, extortion, cheating, and the destruction of evidence. Siddhartha Sharma and Shekhar Jyoti Goswami are also charged with criminal breach of trust, while Amritprava Mahanta is accused of destroying evidence. Furthermore, the singer’s cousin and suspended police officer, Sandipan Garg, faces charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya have been charged with criminal conspiracy and breach of trust regarding the misappropriation of funds. Currently, all seven accused individuals remain in custody, distributed between the Baksa and Haflong prisons as the case moves forward.
