The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Assam Police has filed a comprehensive charge sheet in the high-profile murder case of iconic Assamese singer-composer Zubeen Garg, charging four individuals—including his personal secretary Siddhartha Sharma and festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta—with murder. On December 12, 2025, the voluminous document, spanning thousands of pages with supporting evidence, was submitted to the Chief Judicial Magistrate's court in Guwahati. Garg, aged 52, died under mysterious circumstances in Singapore on September 19, 2025, while attending the Northeast India Festival.
The charge sheet invokes Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against Sharma, Mahanta, band member Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, and co-singer Amritprava Mahanta, alongside charges of criminal conspiracy and common intention. Garg's cousin, suspended police officer Sandipan Garg, faces culpable homicide not amounting to murder, while two personal security officers, Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya, are accused of criminal conspiracy and breach of trust. The seven accused remain in judicial custody.
The investigation, lasting nearly three months, involved examining over 300 witnesses, collecting evidence from Singapore, and analysing forensic and digital materials. SIT chief Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta described the case as a "plain and simple murder", with motives linked to potential financial disputes. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the filing, stating it fulfilled a promise for justice and anticipating a swift trial.
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Zubeen Garg, a cultural icon known for his contributions to Assamese and Bollywood music, was in Singapore for a performance when he drowned during a yacht outing. Initial reports suggested accidental drowning, but widespread public outcry and multiple FIRs prompted the formation of the SIT. The case has evoked strong emotions in Assam, with fans demanding accountability.
The charge sheet marks a pivotal step, paving the way for trial proceedings. A separate probe into related financial irregularities continues, as authorities emphasise delivering maximum justice in this shocking loss to the region's cultural heritage.
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