Two Assam Police officers in Singapore to probe Zubeen death

Guwahati: Two high-ranking officers from the Assam Police, Special DGP and SIT chief MP Gupta, along with Titabor Co-District SP Tarun Goel, travelled to Singapore from Guwahati on Monday to investigate the death of Zubeen Garg, who died in the island country last month.The investigation is being conducted by the SIT formed under the CID of Assam Police, after more than 60 FIRs were filed across the state concerning the incident. Gupta is leading the nine-member SIT, with Goel as one of its members.According to sources, the team will visit the location where Zubeen reportedly took his last breath. Zubeen died while swimming in the sea in Singapore on Sept 19. He went to Singapore on Sept 17 and was scheduled to perform at the 4th edition of the North East India Festival.The SIT is also expected to meet the yacht pilot and attendant to gather detailed accounts of the incident and visit the five-star hotel where Zubeen stayed, aiming to examine every possible angle of the case. To facilitate the investigation, the Indian govt invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Singapore, seeking cooperation from local authorities. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is conducting a parallel investigation.

In a statement issued on Oct 17, the SPF stated that preliminary findings did not suggest any foul play in Zubeen’s death. However, the investigation may take up to three more months, after which the results will be submitted to the State Coroner for further proceedings.Assam Police have arrested the organiser of the North East India Festival in Singapore, Shyamkanu Mahanta, his manager Siddharth Sharma, drummer Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, co-singer Amritprabha Mahanta, and his cousin brother Sandipon Garg in connection with the singer’s death.

Later, Zubeen’s two PSOs — Paresh Baishya and Nandeswar Bora — were also arrested after the SIT found a transaction of over Rs 1 crore in their bank accounts.All seven individuals are currently in judicial custody and have been charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence. The SIT has also interrogated 10 Assamese individuals living in Singapore, who were on the yacht at the final moments of the incident in the sea.