"It is a case of murder from very first": Himanta Biswa Sarma on Zubeen's death case

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday, November 25, made a sensational statement in the Assam Legislative Assembly, asserting that renowned singer and composer Zubeen Garg’s death was not an accident but an “outright murder.” Garg, 52, died under mysterious circumstances while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19, during a yacht trip linked to the North East India Festival (NEIF).

Speaking during an adjournment motion moved by the opposition, Sarma said that preliminary findings of the Assam Police ruled out culpable homicide and pointed directly towards murder.

“After a preliminary probe, the Assam Police was sure that this was not culpable homicide. It was a plain and simple murder. One of the accused killed Garg, and others assisted him,” he said, adding that four to five individuals are being booked in the case.

Following the widespread outrage and more than 60 FIRs filed across Assam, the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the circumstances surrounding Garg’s death.

A one-man inquiry commission, headed by Justice Soumitra Saikia of the Gauhati High Court, was also set up to conduct an independent probe. The commission has extended its deadline for recording witness statements and receiving evidence until December 12.

Days after the incident, several individuals associated with the singer or the NEIF were arrested, including:

Shyamkanu Mahanta, North East Festival organiser

Siddharth Sharma, Zubeen Garg’s manager

Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta, band members

Sandipan Garg, the singer’s cousin and a senior Assam police officer

Additionally, Garg’s personal security officers, Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya, were taken into custody after investigators discovered unexplained financial transactions totalling over Rs 1.1 crore in their accounts.

All seven accused are currently under judicial custody and face charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence.

Sarma said the SIT is preparing a “watertight chargesheet”, which is expected to be filed in December.
“The motive behind the crime will shock the people of Assam,” he told the House, adding that after the initial chargesheet, the probe would broaden to cover alleged negligence and criminal breach of trust.

Meanwhile, the Singapore Police Force continues its independent investigation into the circumstances of Garg’s death.