Singapore Police to provide crucial evidence in Zubeen Garg case in 10 days: SIT

Guwahati: Singapore Police Force (SPF) is likely to provide crucial evidence, including CCTV footage and statements of eye witnesses, related to the death of Zubeen Garg within the next 10 days, a senior official said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference, CID Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta said the Assam Police has requested their counterparts in the Southeast Asian nation to provide all relevant information to complete the ongoing investigation in a timely manner.

Gupta and Titabor Co-District SP Tarun Goel, who had gone to Singapore four days ago to probe the unnatural death of the singer, returned on Thursday. Gupta is heading the SIT, while Goel is a member of the nine-member group formed to probe the case.

"We met the Indian High Commissioner in Singapore and discussed all legal assistance required. We also had a discussion with a five-member high-level delegation of SPF, and it was a very fruitful meeting," Gupta told reporters here.

The two police forces deliberated on the investigation being carried out in the two countries and exchanged information related to the case, he added.

"We sought the statement of the yacht pilot and one member of Assam Association Singapore. As they are citizens of Singapore, it will have to be done through a legal process. They have assured us to provide us with the statements in the next 10 days," Gupta said.

The Assam Police team also sought the CCTV footage of the hotel and other places visited by Garg, and the SPF will try to provide the same within the next 10 days, he added.

"We emphasised that we need assistance from them to complete the investigation in a timely manner. The way SPF is looking to complete the probe in 90 days, we will also have to submit the chargesheet within three months. They have assured us of all help," Gupta said.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Assam Police is currently probing Garg's death case after more than 60 FIRs were lodged across the state.

"We could visit the place of occurrence and even the locations Zubeen Garg had visited during his stay in Singapore. We also visited the yacht, which was hired by the Assam Association Singapore. International cooperation usually takes a long time, but in this case, we are getting quick assistance," Gupta said.

He said the report of the first autopsy, conducted immediately after Garg's death, was handed over to Assam Police team through the Indian High Commission.

Talking about the ongoing probe in Guwahati, Gupta said: "It is going on in the right direction. Although I cannot say much, we have recorded statements from more than 70 people so far." Garg's wife Garima and sister Palme Borthakur reached the CID headquarters earlier in the day to record their statements, he added.

"I want to appeal to the people who have any relevant information of Zubeen Garg or any chats with him prior to his death to come out and share those information with us," Gupta said.

The celebrated singer died under mysterious circumstances in Singapore on September 19 while swimming in the sea. He had gone to the Southeast Asian nation to attend the 4th edition of the North East India Festival.

The Indian government had earlier invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Singapore, seeking cooperation in the investigation into the death of the singer in the Southeast Asian country.

Singapore Police Force (SPF) is also carrying out an independent investigation into the incident of Garg's alleged drowning in sea.

In a statement on October 17, the SPF said that the preliminary investigations have not indicated any foul play in Garg's death.

It also said that investigations into the death of the popular Indian singer-songwriter-composer may take up to another three months, after which the findings will be submitted to the State Coroner for further proceedings.

The Assam Police has interrogated 10 Assamese expats from Singapore out of 11, against whom summonses were issued, while the remaining one is a citizen of the Southeast Asian nation.

A yacht was booked by a few office bearers of the Assam Association Singapore, and these 11 people were present when Garg allegedly drowned near an island in the sea.

Earlier, North East India Festival chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, the singer's manager Siddharth Sharma, and his two band members -- Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta -- were apprehended.

Later, Garg's cousin and Assam Police DSP Sandipan Garg was arrested in connection with the singer's death in Singapore last month.

Zubeen Garg's PSOs Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya were also arrested after police found huge financial transactions, worth over Rs 1.1 crore, from their accounts.

All the seven arrested people are now in judicial custody. They were booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy and causing death by negligence.