Singer Zubeen Garg’s death takes mysterious twists and turns: Poisoning alleged |
The case has spiraled into a sensational, deeply complex investigation gripping public attention across the country.
The Singapore autopsy report says Zubeen died due to drowning. But that being true, the events leading up to his drowning are significant in determining the nature of his death. The Assam Government has ordered a viscera analysis following widespread allegations of foul play. The report is expected on October 10.
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GUWAHATI, Oct 5: Assam's cultural icon the late Zubeen Garg's close friend
and bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami has accused the late singer's manager Siddharth
Sharma and the Singapore event organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta of poisoning the
legendary singer leading to his death by drowning in the sea off St. John's
Island during swimming while on a pleasure trip on a yacht with a group of ten
on board on September 19.
Both Siddharth Sharma and cultural entrepreneur Shyamkanu Mahanta have denied
the allegations during police interrogation after their arrest on Wednesday
following the startling disclosue by Shekhar—who was arrested earlier alongwith
another—during the latter's questioning.
Zubeen was scheduled to perform on September 20 at the three-day event jointly
organised by the fourth edition of the North East India Festival (NEIF) of Mahanta
and the Indian High Commission marking the 60th year of India-Singapore Diplomatic
Relations.
Shekhar further told the SIT that the duo had conspired to poison the victim
and had deliberately chosen the foreign venue for the purpose. Siddharth specially
arranged drinks, he claimed. Shekhar said Zubeen was an expert swimmer who had
trained him and Siddharth as well. He also told the SIT that Siddharth was nonserious
when Zubeen was seen gasping for breath in the sea.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said yesterday: “The viscera report
from the National Forensic Laboratory is expected by October 10, and only then
we will know the truth."
Meanwhile, a one-man judicial commission led by Gauhati HC Justice Soumitra
Saikia has begun an independent probe,he said.
Four arrested
Assam's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had arrested Siddhartha and
Mahanta on Wednesday from Delhi and transported to Guwahati and got remanded
to 14 days police custody. Siddhartha haf been absconding since the singer’s
death. The CID has added murder charges to the first information report (FIR)
after the disclosure by Shekhar.
So far, four people—Siddharth Sharma, Shyamkanu Mahanta, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami
and Amrit Prabha Mahanta—have been arrested. The CID has issued notices to the
Assam Association in Singapore to appear before it on October 6.
The arrests followed the discovery of pharmaceutical drugs in Zubeen’s bag—reportedly
in Siddharth’s possession—and inconsistencies in the timeline of Garg’s final
hours.
The 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) is expected to visit Singapore
in a couple of days.
Autopsy report
Zubeen died under mysterious circumstances while swimming and he was not scuba
diving as reported earlier. It was also reported that he had a seizure while
in the waters.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) ruled out foul play in the death of the 52-year-old
singer. According to the SPF, Zubeen was on board a yacht with over a dozen
people. He jumped into the water first with a life jacket and again a second
time without it. He was pulled out unconscious and died in Singapore General
Hospital. The autopsy report was given to the Indian High Commission and also
to his wife Garima Garg. It says Zubeen died due to drowning.
The Assam Government ordered another viscera analysis following widespread
allegations of foul play.
But that being true, the events leading up to his drowning are significant
in determining the nature of his drowning and not be carried away by irrelevat
and inconsequential disclosures during interrogations or by rumours.
Financial angle
Reports claim Siddhartha as Zubeen Garg’s manager is now the sole owner of
the copyrights of his creations — running into crores in royalties—who absconded
after Zubeen’s tragic death. He continues to get the royalties amounting to
crores annually for Garg’s songs from online platforms like YouTube, Spotify,
Apple Music, JioSaavn, Gaana, etc, the report said.
Zubeen's major Bollywood hits were 'Ya Ali' from the film 'Gangster', 'Dil
Tu Hi Bataa' from 'Krrish 3' and 'Jaane Kya Chahe Man' from 'Pyaar Ke Side Effects'.
Apart from Assamese, he also sang in many other languages.
His personal project, film Roi Roi Binale, wil be released on October 31 posthumously.
The chronology of events
- September 17–18: Garg arrives in Singapore for NEIF, scheduled for September
20–21. He appears cheerful in videos,
- September 19: During a swim, Garg reportedly re-enters the water without
a life jacket. He loses consciousness and is pulled out, given CPR, and rushed
to Singapore General Hospital. He is declared dead later that day. The cause:
drowning, possibly triggered by an epileptic seizure, given his known medical
history.
- September 20: NEIF is canceled. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announces three
days of state mourning and directs complaints to CID for a consolidated probe.
- September 22–26: CID raids Mahanta’s residence, seizing multiple PAN cards
and stamp seals, hinting at possible financial crimes.
- September 27–30: CID questions Garg’s bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and
singer Amritprabha Mahanta. Both are later arrested and remanded to 14-day
custody.
- September 30: Mahanta petitions the Supreme Court to transfer the investigation
to a central agency like the NIA or CBI, citing bias. He is arrested shortly
after.
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