Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg died on September 19, 2025, in Singapore during the NorthEast India Festival, initially believed to be a drowning incident.
His bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami has alleged in a police remand note that Garg was poisoned by his manager Siddharth Sharma and festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, who conspired to make the death appear accidental.
The Assam CID has formed a nine-member SIT, arrested four accused, and is probing the case, while a judicial commission led by Gauhati HC Justice Soumitra Saikia has been constituted. The viscera report from the National Forensic Laboratory is expected by October 10, which may confirm the poisoning claim.
Allegations of a Foreign Conspiracy
Goswami, arrested and sent to 14-day police remand, alleged that Sharma and Mahanta poisoned Garg and deliberately chose Singapore to conceal their crime. He claimed Sharma forcibly took control of the yacht, causing it to wobble dangerously, and personally supplied drinks, preventing others from doing so.
When Garg began frothing at the mouth and nose, Sharma allegedly dismissed it as “acid reflux” and shouted “jabo de, jabo de” (let him go, let him go) as he struggled in the sea.
Goswami stressed that Garg was an expert swimmer who had trained both him and Sharma, making accidental drowning highly improbable. The SIT remand note also states Sharma instructed Goswami not to share any yacht footage, raising further suspicion.
Bandmate Disputes Poisoning Claim, Calls Narrative “Scripted”
Partha Pratim Goswami, another close bandmate of Zubeen Garg, has dismissed the poisoning allegation as “rubbish” and “scripted,” questioning why Shekhar Jyoti Goswami waited 15 days to make such a claim, News18 reported. He challenged the absence of video evidence showing Garg drowning and cited Singapore’s strict laws and advanced forensics, asking how poisoning could go undetected by authorities there.
Partha also accused Siddharth Sharma and Shekhar of negligence, stating they took Garg, known to be a seizure patient, swimming after a night of drinking and no sleep, calling it a “reckless mistake” he will “never forgive”. He warned that false allegations could strain India-Singapore relations if proven baseless.
Investigation and Political Response
The Assam government has launched a multi-pronged probe, with the CID’s SIT investigating criminal conspiracy, murder, and culpable homicide, while the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department are examining alleged financial crimes linked to Mahanta.
A one-man judicial commission under Justice Saikia is conducting an independent inquiry. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma urged patience, stating the viscera report would reveal the truth on October 11, but acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations.
He noted that Assam Police cannot investigate in Singapore and appealed to Assamese witnesses there to return and cooperate.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The tragic death of Zubeen Garg has shaken a nation that saw him as more than a singer, he was a symbol of Assamese pride and unity. While the truth awaits forensic confirmation, the allegations point to a chilling betrayal of trust. The Logical Indian stands with the demand for a transparent, swift, and impartial investigation.
