Assam Police Arrest DSP Cousin Amid Poisoning Allegations in Zubeen Garg Case
Assam DSP detained in singer’s suspicious Singapore death probe.
The investigation into the tragic death of Assamese music legend Zubeen Garg has taken a dramatic turn with the arrest of his cousin, Assam Police Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sandipan Garg, marking the fifth detention in a case that has morphed from a reported drowning into a chilling tale of suspected poisoning and conspiracy. The 52-year-old singer, a cultural icon whose soulful hits like "Ya Ali" defined generations, died on September 19 while swimming in Singapore’s waters, sparking grief and outrage across Assam and beyond.
CID Special Director General of Police Munna Prasad Gupta confirmed the arrest, stating, “We have arrested Sandipan Garg. Now, we are doing the necessary legal formalities.” The DSP, who was with Zubeen during the fateful swim, faced intense questioning over discrepancies in his account. “Our team has taken him to a court here. We will seek police remand,” said another senior officer. The probe has already netted four others: North East India Festival organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta, Zubeen’s manager Siddharth Sharma, and band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta, all currently in custody.
The tragedy unfolded during the fourth edition of the North East India Festival in Singapore, a cultural extravaganza celebrating India-Singapore ties. Zubeen, known for his athleticism and love for swimming, was enjoying a beach outing near St. John’s Island when disaster struck. Eyewitnesses described him suddenly struggling in the waves, despite wearing a life jacket, before collapsing unconscious. Efforts to revive him at Singapore General Hospital failed, with an initial autopsy pointing to drowning. But as Assam mourned, a family complaint and public outcry prompted a deeper probe, with a second post-mortem in India hinting at foul play.
Also Read: Singapore Police Hand Over Zubeen Garg's Autopsy Report to India; Foul Play Ruled Out
The arrests have fueled a firestorm of allegations. Goswami, now a co-accused turned witness, dropped a stunning claim: Sharma and Mahanta allegedly poisoned Zubeen’s drinks during the trip, orchestrating the incident on foreign soil to dodge scrutiny. He accused Sharma of delaying medical aid as Zubeen floundered, reportedly muttering in Assamese, “Let him go, let him go.” The bandmate insisted Zubeen’s swimming skills made drowning unlikely without sabotage. Mahanta and Sharma were apprehended in Delhi, while the band members were detained soon after, each interrogation peeling back layers of a possible plot.
Sandipan’s arrest as Zubeen’s kin and a police insider has stunned observers. Was he complicit, negligent, or merely caught in the wrong place? Investigators are scouring festival CCTV, forensic samples, and timelines, with Zubeen’s widow, Garima, demanding a thorough probe. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has appointed a judicial commission under Justice Soumitra Saikia to untangle the case, amid whispers of financial motives being explored by other agencies.
Also Read: Zubeen Garg’s Festival Organiser, Manager Jailed by Police Fourteen Days
