Guwahati, 25 November (HS): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday stirred a major political storm in the Assembly, declaring that singer-composer Zubeen Garg’s demise was not accidental but a clear case of murder. Garg, 52, had died on September 19 while swimming in the sea in Singapore during a yacht trip associated with the North East Festival.

Responding to an adjournment motion brought by the opposition, Sarma asserted that the initial assessment by Assam Police dismissed any possibility of culpable homicide and instead indicated deliberate killing. “The preliminary investigation confirmed it wasn’t culpable homicide. This was a straightforward murder. One individual executed the act while others helped,” he told the House, adding that four to five people are being charged.

Public uproar and over 60 FIRs filed across the state prompted the government to form a Special Investigation Team under the CID to examine the circumstances of the musician’s death. Alongside, a one-man inquiry panel led by Justice Soumitra Saikia of the Gauhati High Court is conducting an independent probe, with its deadline for receiving statements and evidence extended to December 12.

In the days following the incident, several people linked to Zubeen or the NEIF were arrested. Among them were festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, the singer’s manager Siddharth Sharma, bandmates Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, Amrit Prabha Mahanta, and his cousin Sandipan Garg, an Assam Police officer. Two of Garg’s personal security officers, Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya, were also held after authorities detected unexplained financial transactions of more than ₹1.1 crore in their accounts.

All seven accused remain in judicial custody and are booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy and causing death by negligence. Sarma informed the Assembly that the SIT is working on a “watertight chargesheet,” likely to be submitted in December. He added that the suspected motive “will shock the people of Assam,” and said the inquiry will widen after the initial chargesheet to look into possible negligence and breach of trust.

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

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash