Cousin Sandipan Garg Charged With Murder in Zubeen Garg Death Investigation

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the death of Assamese Singer Zubeen Garg filed a comprehensive 3,500-page chargesheet on December 12, 2025, in the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court in Guwahati, naming seven individuals as accused in what authorities have described as a case of murder. Garg, a 52-year-old cultural icon revered as the "Voice of Assam" for his contributions to music, film, and regional advocacy, died on September 19, 2025, while swimming in the waters off St John's Island in Singapore. He was in the city to perform at the Northeast India Festival, an event celebrating India-Singapore diplomatic ties and ASEAN tourism. Initial reports from Singapore authorities cited drowning as the cause, with no immediate signs of foul play, but public outcry and family demands prompted a second post-mortem in Assam and the formation of the nine-member SIT led by Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta. The chargesheet, transported in four trunks via a convoy of six vehicles, includes statements from over 300 witnesses, forensic evidence, and documents gathered during the SIT's October visit to Singapore, underscoring a meticulous effort to establish criminal liability despite the island nation's ongoing independent inquiry.

Among the accused, Garg's cousin and suspended Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sandipan Garg, who accompanied the singer to Singapore, faces charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Four others—North East India Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg's manager Siddharth Sharma, bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, and co-singer Amritprava Mahanta—have been charged with murder under Section 103(1), alongside allegations of criminal conspiracy (Section 61) and destruction of evidence. The remaining two, personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya, are implicated in negligence and financial irregularities, with suspicious transactions exceeding Rs 1.1 crore traced to their accounts. All seven, arrested between September and November 2025, remain in judicial custody, and no lawyers from Assam have agreed to represent them, reflecting widespread public outrage. The document also probes separate financial misconduct by Mahanta and Sharma, with an additional chargesheet expected soon.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has publicly labelled the incident a "plain and simple murder" orchestrated by one principal accused with accomplices, hailed the filing as a "meticulously done exercise" sufficient for conviction based on independent evidence, even without full Singapore cooperation. He announced plans to petition the Gauhati High Court for a fast-track trial and appoint a special public prosecutor once the case advances to sessions court. The probe traces a motive rooted in criminal conspiracy, potentially linked to the festival's organisation and personal disputes, though specifics remain under seal to protect the judicial process. Opposition leaders, including Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, have urged a central agency like the CBI to oversee the investigation, citing interstate and international dimensions, while the Centre has granted sanction under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to prosecute the accused. Singapore's Police Force, maintaining its preliminary finding of no foul play, continues its own probe under the Coroners Act, with results expected by early 2026, potentially influencing cross-border legal proceedings.

Also Read: SIT Files Charge Sheet in Zubeen Garg Case, Seven Close Associates Accused of Murder Conspiracy

The development has reignited grief across Assam, where Garg's September passing triggered three days of statewide mourning, school closures, and protests demanding transparency. Born in 1972 in Tura, Meghalaya, to an Assamese family from Jorhat, Garg's repertoire of over 5,000 songs in multiple languages, coupled with his activism against big dams and for indigenous rights, made him a symbol of Northeast identity. His funeral, held with state honours on September 23, drew lakhs, but suspicions—fuelled by videos showing him floating unconscious and delayed responses from companions—have sustained calls for justice under hashtags like #JusticeForZubeenGarg on social media. As the court prepares to take cognisance, the case highlights tensions in high-profile investigations involving celebrities, law enforcement insiders, and international jurisdictions, with Sarma vowing that "the court will deliver justice" to honour Garg's enduring legacy.

Also Read: Assam CID to File Chargesheet in Singer Zubeen Garg Murder Case, Probe Concludes