The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the mysterious death of popular Assamese singer Zubeen Garg has charged four accused with murder, including the singer’s secretary Siddhartha Sharma and North East India Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, according to a charge sheet filed before a Guwahati court on Friday.
The SIT has also charged Garg’s band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta with murder. The charge sheet was submitted before the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Kamrup (Metro).
Zubeen Garg had travelled to Singapore to attend the North East India Festival organised by Mahanta, where he died under mysterious circumstances while swimming in the sea on September 19.
Charges Framed Against Key Accused
Addressing reporters after filing the charge sheet, Special DGP (CID) M P Gupta, who heads the SIT, said that:
- Zubeen Garg’s cousin, suspended Assam Police officer Sandipan Garg, has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
- Garg’s two personal security officers (PSOs) — Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya — have been charged with criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust for allegedly misappropriating funds or property entrusted to them.
Besides murder, Shyamkanu Mahanta has also been charged with:
- Criminal conspiracy
- Extortion
- Cheating
- Destruction of evidence
Zubeen Garg’s secretary Siddhartha Sharma faces charges of murder, criminal conspiracy, and criminal breach of trust.
In addition to the murder charge:
- Shekhar Jyoti Goswami has been charged with criminal breach of trust
- Amritprava Mahanta has been charged with destruction of evidence
All accused have been arrested and are currently in judicial custody. Five accused are lodged in Baksa Jail, while Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta are housed in Haflong Prison.
Charge Sheet Details and Evidence
Special DGP Gupta said the charge sheet spans 2,500 pages, while documentary evidence — both material and digital — exceeds 12,000 pages.
The case was registered as CID Case No. 18/2025, which was the original case initiated after nearly 60 FIRs were filed across Assam following Garg’s death.
Gupta said that all evidence received from Singapore authorities has been submitted to the court. He added that the SIT ensured the case was built on independent evidence collected in Assam, making it strong even if Singapore documents are ruled inadmissible.
“We have filed the charge sheet in such a manner that even if the court decides that Singapore documents are not admissible, the evidence collected in Assam alone is sufficient to prove the charges,” Gupta said.
Investigation into a second case (CID Case No. 19/2025) related to property dealings and other activities is still underway.
Family Reacts: ‘We Want the Guilty Punished’
Zubeen Garg’s wife Garima Saikia Garg expressed satisfaction with the investigation and thanked the SIT for its work.
“The probe, which took place on the basis of the FIR filed by us, proceeded on expected lines. A lot of hard work went into it,” she said.
She added that the outcome reflected the sentiments of the people of Assam.
“Our house has been shattered. People are disturbed wondering how a person like Zubeen Garg could be killed. Everyone in Assam wants the guilty to be punished,” she said, expressing faith in the judiciary.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma: Promise Fulfilled
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the SIT’s action fulfilled the government’s promise to deliver justice.
“We had taken the responsibility of ensuring justice to Zubeen Garg, and we fulfilled this by filing the charge sheet within a record time,” Sarma said while attending a programme in Kokrajhar.
He said the investigation was conducted meticulously, the motive was clearly established, and the charge sheet was vetted by the Advocate General.
Sarma reiterated that although documents were collected from Singapore, the case was proven through independent investigation within Assam.
Earlier, during the Assembly session, Sarma had described Garg’s death as “plain and simple murder.”
Singapore Police’s Stand
Meanwhile, the Singapore Police Force (SPF), which is conducting an independent probe, has stated that its preliminary investigation has not indicated any foul play. The SPF said its investigation could take another three months to conclude.