Dispur : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said singer Zubeen Garg’s death in Singapore was not accidental, but a case of “plain and simple” murder. The Assam Police, after a preliminary probe, was sure that it was not a case of culpable homicide, but it was a plain and simple murder, Sarma said. Zubeen, who enthralled a generation with his soulful Bollywood and Assamese songs, died in Singapore on September 19 while swimming near an island in Singapore.
The ‘Ya Ali’ fame singer was supposed to perform at the North East India Festival. The Chief Minister said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested seven people and examined 252 witnesses in connection with the case so far. One of the accused killed Garg, and others helped him. Four to five people are being booked in the murder case, Sarma told the Assembly. Since Zubeen’s death, which has turned into an emotive issue in Assam, there has been a flurry of arrests, including that of his manager Siddharth Sharma and fest organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta.
Zubeen’s cousin and DSP Sandipan Garg has also been arrested. However, clarity on the reason behind the singer’s death has remained elusive. Several conspiracy theories have floated, ranging from negligence by his aides to claims that the 52-year-old singer was poisoned. In fact, Zubeen’s bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, who was also detained, alleged that the singer’s manager and the organiser of the event poisoned him and a foreign destination was specifically chosen to cover up the act.
However, Singapore police, in a statement, said they do not suspect any foul play in the singer’s death. Earlier this month, Zubeen’s post-mortem and toxicology reports were sent by Singapore to the Assam Police. The Assam Chief Minister said the chargesheet in the murder case would be submitted in December.
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