SIT Chief outlines charges against 7 accused in Zubeen Garg death case, four booked for murder

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the tragic and untimely death of Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg has named seven accused in its chargesheet, with murder charges invoked against four of them. The chargesheet was formally submitted before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (Metro), on Friday, December 12.

Briefing the media, Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta, who heads the nine-member SIT, provided detailed information about the sections applied to each of the accused based on the investigation findings.

According to Gupta, Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with murder and carries a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment, has been invoked against:

Shyamkanu Mahanta – Festival organiser

Siddharth Sharma – Manager of Zubeen Garg

Shekharjyoti Goswami – Drummer and band member

Amrit Prabha Mahanta – Co-singer

The chargesheet was submitted by SIT members Rosy Kalita, Moromi Medhi, and Laba Deka.

On the other hand, Section 105 of the BNS—culpable homicide not amounting to murder—has been slapped on suspended APS officer and cousin of the late singer, Sandipan Garg. This section carries a punishment ranging from 5 to 10 years of imprisonment, which may extend to life imprisonment depending on intent and severity.

The SIT has also charged two personal security officers (PSOs) of the late singer—Paresh Baishya and Nandeswar Borah—under:

Section 61(2) of BNS – Criminal conspiracy

Section 316(5) of BNS – Criminal breach of trust (CBT)

 

 

Criminal breach of trust involves the dishonest misappropriation of property entrusted to an individual and is punishable by up to five years of imprisonment, with harsher penalties for carriers (up to seven years) and public servants or agents (up to ten years or even life imprisonment).

Summarising the charges, the SIT chief stated that four accused—Mahanta, Sharma, Goswami, and Amrit Prabha—face murder charges, while Sandipan Garg is charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and Zubeen’s PSOs are accused of criminal conspiracy and breach of trust linked to financial irregularities.

The high-profile case continues to draw widespread public attention as legal proceedings move to the next stage.