Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared on Monday that superstar Zubeen Garg’s death on September 19 was a “murder” – even as the nature of the death is under investigation in both Singapore and Assam – and that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing it will submit its chargesheet by mid-December.
Garg passed away at the age of 52 in Singapore on September 19. He was there as a cultural brand ambassador for the North East India Festival, which was scheduled to take place on September 20 and 21. Before the festival began, on September 19, he went on a yacht outing, reportedly with members of the Assam Association Singapore, and lost consciousness while he was swimming. He was declared dead when he was taken to Singapore General Hospital.
Sarma emphasised that it was a “murder” while giving reporters an update on when the Assam police SIT is likely to file the chargesheet.
“I will not refer to Zubeen Garg’s death as a ‘mishap’ today. We need to submit the chargesheet in Zubeen Garg’s murder before December 17. I have given the target that it be submitted by December 8. We are ready from all directions. If something happens abroad, before submitting the chargesheet, we need approval from the Home Ministry. Yesterday, I apprised Home Minister Amit Shah as well, so that the approval may be granted quickly. In the next few days, the SIT will write to the MHA. Once we get the approval, we will file the chargesheet on December 8, 9 or 10,” he said.
The Assam police SIT is investigating a CID case under charges of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and causing death by negligence, to which murder charges were added as well.
Five people have been arrested in connection with the case – his manager, the Singapore festival organiser, two of his bandmates, and his cousin, who had accompanied him to Singapore. Two of Garg’s Personal Security Officers have also been arrested since his death for alleged disproportionate assets under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The Singapore Police is also investigating the death in accordance with Singapore’s Coroners Act 2010. In a statement issued last month, the Singapore police stated that based on preliminary investigations, they “do not suspect foul play.” Its investigation is likely to take more than another two months, it had stated.
