Bandmate Alleges Zubeen Garg Was Poisoned, Manager and Organiser Deny Charges

The investigation into the sudden death of Assamese cultural icon and playback singer Zubeen Garg has taken a dramatic turn, with his bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami accusing manager Siddharth Sharma and festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta of poisoning the artist during a yacht trip in Singapore. Garg, 51, a prolific singer with over 5,000 songs across Assamese cinema and folk genres, reportedly collapsed on September 29 while on a celebratory outing organised by the Assam Association (Singapore). Initially deemed a drowning accident, the case has escalated to include charges of criminal conspiracy and murder under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), prompting a multi-agency probe into potential foul play.

Goswami's detailed testimony, recorded by Assam Police, paints a picture of suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident at Pan Pacific Hotel and the subsequent yacht excursion. He alleged Sharma forcibly seized control from the sailor, causing the vessel to rock perilously, and insisted on personally supplying drinks to guests, barring others like NRI Tanmoy Phukan from arranging them. As Garg struggled—gasping and frothing at the mouth and nose—Sharma allegedly shouted "Jabo de, jabo de" (let him go), dismissed symptoms as mere acid reflux, and delayed medical intervention, actions Goswami claims hastened the singer's demise. Emphasising Garg's expertise as a trained swimmer who had coached both him and Sharma, Goswami asserted drowning was implausible and pointed to deliberate poisoning, with Singapore chosen to obscure evidence. He further claimed Sharma warned him against sharing yacht videos.

Sharma and Mahanta, both named in the FIR and interrogated by authorities, have vehemently denied the poisoning and conspiracy allegations. Investigators, however, cite prima facie evidence—including financial records, transaction trails, and corroborative witness accounts—that bolsters Sharma's culpability. The duo's conduct in the immediate aftermath, including Sharma's alleged cover-up attempts, has intensified scrutiny. Garg's death shocked Assam, where he was revered as a bridge between traditional Bihu music and Bollywood, earning the Asom Ratna award in 2021 for his contributions to the state's cultural identity.

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The probe extends beyond the tragedy, with Assam's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) uncovering over two decades of alleged financial irregularities by Mahanta from his tenure at a non-banking financial company (NBFC). The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax Department are poised to intervene, probing organised financial crimes and benami property acquisitions. Officials from these agencies have already visited CID headquarters, signalling a broader financial angle. As the family mourns—Garg leaves behind wife Risha and two daughters—authorities urge public restraint amid rising speculation. The case underscores vulnerabilities in the entertainment industry's inner circles, with forensic reports from Singapore pending to clarify toxicology, potentially reshaping narratives around one of Northeast India's most beloved voices.

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