Zubeen Garg Death: SIT Charges Festival Organizer, 3 Others With Murder
Guwahati – The mystery surrounding the death of popular Indian singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore has intensified dramatically. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Assam government filed an over 3,500-page charge sheet in a Guwahati court, formally charging four individuals with murder.
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Garg, a cultural icon, died under mysterious circumstances on September 19 while swimming in the sea during a trip to attend the North East India Festival in Singapore.
The Accused and the Charges
The SIT, led by Special DGP M P Gupta, has laid out specific charges for those closest to the singer at the time of his death:
| Accused Individual | Relation to Zubeen Garg | Primary Charge (Indian Penal Code/BNSS) |
| Shyamkanu Mahanta | Chief Organiser, North East India Festival | Murder |
| Siddhartha Sharma | Singer’s Secretary | Murder |
| Shekhar Jyoti Goswami | Member of Garg’s Band | Murder |
| Amritprava Mahanta | Member of Garg’s Band | Murder |
| Sandipan Garg | Cousin and Suspended Assam Police Officer | Culpable Homicide Not Amounting to Murder |
The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, had publicly claimed in the State Assembly that Garg’s death was “plain and simple murder,” stating that evidence pointed to a conspiracy, potentially linked to financial matters. The SIT’s charge sheet formally backs this strong political statement.
The Conflicting Investigations (Here’s the Kicker)
The SIT’s findings stand in sharp contrast to the initial assessment from the local authorities in Singapore:
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Singapore Police Force (SPF): The SPF had released a statement saying that their preliminary probe “has not indicated any foul play.” Their investigation remains open and may take up to another three months to conclude.
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Assam SIT: The Assam investigation, which included recording statements from over 300 people, is built on the premise of a pre-meditated act.
The submission of the extensive charge sheet at the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court now sets the stage for a high-profile legal battle, challenging the initial narrative of accidental death.
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Disclaimer: This information is based on the charge sheet filed by the Assam government’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) in a Guwahati court on December 12, 2025. The charges are allegations, and the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
