Daijiworld Media Network - Guwahati

Guwahati, Dec 12: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Assam Police on Friday filed the charge sheet in the high-profile murder case of music icon Zubeen Garg in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (Metro).

The charge sheet comes after nearly three months of investigation, during which the SIT recorded statements from over 300 individuals, including a few Singapore-based Assamese expatriates.

Garg (52) had died under mysterious circumstances on September 19 while swimming in Singapore, where he had travelled to perform at the 4th North East India Festival (NEIF). Following the incident, seven people were arrested, including NEIF organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma, his cousin and DSP Sandipan Garg, personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya, bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, and singer Amritprabha Mahanta.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier told the Assembly that one person directly murdered Garg while others cooperated, terming it a “plain and simple murder.” He indicated that the case involves a larger conspiracy related to financial matters that dates back to before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sarma stated that the government had initially registered the case under BNS sections 61 (criminal conspiracy), 105 (culpable homicide), and 106 (causing death by negligence). “During preliminary investigation, the Assam Police were certain that it was not a case of culpable homicide but a plain and simple murder. So, within two days, the Assam government informed the court that it was a case of murder and requested it to add the BNS section 103. After a debate, the court added section 103,” he said.

The charge sheet marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into Garg’s mysterious death, as the SIT prepares to pursue further inquiries to ensure accountability.