The chargesheet filed last week in connection with the death of Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg in Singapore has laid out detailed grounds for invoking murder charges, reinforcing Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s repeated assertion that the incident was not accidental but a case of homicide.
According to information accessed by a leading English daily, investigators have accused those present with allegedly encouraging Garg to enter the sea while intoxicated and failing to take timely steps to rescue him. The incident occurred on September 19 during a yacht outing ahead of the North East India Festival, for which Garg had travelled to Singapore as a cultural brand ambassador.
The yacht trip was reportedly organised by members of the Assam Association Singapore. Garg lost consciousness while swimming and was later pronounced dead at Singapore General Hospital. While Singapore authorities cited drowning as the cause of death, the Assam Police investigation concluded that the singer was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
Murder charges have been filed against four individuals: festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma, and fellow musicians Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta. Garg’s cousin, Sandipan Garg, an Assam Police Service officer, has been booked for culpable homicide. While Shyamkanu Mahanta was in Singapore for the festival, the remaining four were present on the yacht during the incident.
The chargesheet reportedly states that manager Siddharth Sharma was responsible for enabling Garg’s intoxication, which affected his coordination and reflexes, and for allowing him to swim without a life jacket despite medical advice. Garg’s doctor had reportedly warned him to avoid water and fire due to health concerns, including a known history of epilepsy.
Drummer Shekhar Jyoti Goswami has been accused of provoking Garg to enter the water and failing to rescue him, despite being best positioned to do so. Organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta allegedly provided Garg with alcohol against medical advice and failed to inform yacht organisers of his medical condition. He is also accused of not arranging prompt medical assistance, resulting in Garg being taken to hospital 75 minutes after the incident and missing what investigators described as the “golden hour”.
Singer Amritprava Mahanta has been accused of facilitating excessive alcohol consumption and of not alerting Garg’s manager, organiser or wife to his condition, which included intoxication, lack of food and sleep deprivation. She is also alleged to have encouraged him to swim without a life jacket.
The chargesheet further alleges that Sharma had plans to “retire” the singer and gain financially from him, citing recent diversification of his business interests, including investments in aquaculture, hospitality and transportation ventures.
Sandipan Garg is accused of instigating Goswami, and indirectly Zubeen Garg, to swim a long distance towards the shore and of entering the water late in an attempt to rescue him.
Two police personnel serving as Garg’s personal security officers — Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya — have also been named in the case, though they did not travel to Singapore. They face charges of criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust. Investigators allege that they were entrusted with Garg’s movable property, which they dishonestly misappropriated for personal use.
The defence lawyer for the accused declined to comment on the chargesheet.
The case has been transferred to a Sessions Court, where the trial is scheduled to begin on December 22.
Investigators have cited 394 witnesses in the chargesheet. These include 10 Assamese residents of Singapore who participated in the yacht outing, two officials from the Indian High Commission in Singapore, and a large number of police officers, medical professionals, friends, family members, acquaintances, and representatives of various civil society organisations in Assam.
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