Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday that if the SIT (Special Investigation Team) investigation is not satisfactory, the state government will recommend handing over the investigation into singer Zubin Garg’s death to the CBI. This statement comes after the state government formed a 10-member SIT to investigate Garg’s death. According to reports, Zubin Garg died by drowning in the sea in Singapore.
Chief Minister Appeals to People to Stop Spreading Rumors
CM Sarma appealed to people to trust the investigating team and stop spreading rumors on social media, as this could impact the investigation. He said, “We will not hesitate to hand over this case to the CBI. Our stand is clear: we will use every possible means to uncover the truth of what happened that day and will not compromise on this matter.”
Sarma also said that those who traveled to Singapore with Zubin Garg—members of the Assam Association in Singapore and organizers of the North East India Festival (NEIF)—would also be questioned. He stressed that the investigation would be conducted step-by-step as per legal procedures and that no one should expect immediate justice, as the court decides on facts and evidence, not emotions.
SIT and CID teams conduct raids
Meanwhile, SIT and CID teams raided the home of Shyamkanu Mahanta in Guwahati on Thursday. Mahanta was the main organizer of NEIF and had sent Zubin Garg to the festival. A case related to Zubin Garg’s death has been registered under sections 61(2)/105/106(1) of the CrPC.
Circumstances and Controversy of Zubin Garg’s Death
The sudden death of popular Assamese singer Zubin Garg in Singapore had initially generated confusion and speculation. Initial reports suggested that he died while scuba diving. However, his wife, Garima Saikia Garg, denied this, stating that scuba diving was not a case.
According to Garima, the incident occurred while swimming at Lazarus Island. Jubin was initially swimming with his manager, Siddharth Sharma, and drummer, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, wearing a life jacket. After a brief rest on the shore, he suffered a seizure when he entered the water for the second time. He was immediately rushed to Singapore General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead at 2:30 p.m.
Singapore authorities conducted a post-mortem on September 19, stating that the cause of death was drowning. Despite this, suspicion remains in Assam about the circumstances of his death. This is why a second post-mortem was conducted to ensure clarity in the matter.
