Zubeen Garg case: SIT files 3,500-page chargesheet; four charged with murder

The singer's manager, organiser of the Singapore event, and his two bandmates have been charged with murder; the case has turned into an issue for political parties gearing up for the Assembly elections slated early next year

Guwahati: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Assam CID probing into cultural icon Zubeen Garg's death case has charged four accused of murder in its chargesheet filed in a court here on Friday.

The SIT, headed by Munna Prasad Gupta, a special DG, CID, filed the chargesheet containing over 3,500 pages and enclosures before the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (Metro), in Guwahati.

Sources in the CID said four accused, Zubeen's manager Siddhartha Sharma, organiser of the Northeast India Festival in Singapore Shyamkanu Mahanta, his two bandmates Shekhar Goswami and Amritprabha Mahanta have been charged under Section 103 (murder) and Section 106 (causing death by negligence) of the BNS.

Zubeen’s cousin Sandipan Garg, a police officer, has been charged under Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the BNS.

Charges of criminal breach of trust under Section 316 the BNS have been imposed on Sharma, Mahanta and Zubeen's PSOs Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya, sources said.

Four trunks carrying the documents were taken inside the court at around 11.20 am and submitted before the court.

The SIT has arrested seven persons and questioned over 300 people, including his family members, friends, bandmates, fans, and Assamese NRIs in Singapore, beside others during the investigation.

Life across Assam came to a standstill after Garg, an iconic singer, musician, film-maker, and actor, died while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19. Garg was swimming with his friends and associates after a yacht party organised by Singapore-based Assamese NRIs. Garg, 52, was in Singapore to attend the Northeast India Festival as a "cultural ambassador".

Murder or mishap

Although initially Garg's death was suspected to be owing to a mishap, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed several times that it was a case of murder. On November 25, Sarma was direct when he told the Assembly that Garg was killed by one and others helped in committing the crime. "It was a simple, plain murder case. The chargesheets will shock everyone," Sarma said in the House during the Winter Session of the legislature.

Politics over icon's death

The Opposition Congress and others, however, have been demanding a CBI inquiry into the case. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi recently said the Union Ministry of External Affairs should also be brought under the ambit of the investigation as the Northeast India Festival was supported by the Ministry. His fans launched a campaign, both online and on the streets, demanding justice for his family and fans.

The case, however, has turned into an issue for political parties gearing up for the Assembly elections slated early next year. The ruling BJP, which is eyeing its third term, is under pressure as Garg's death and the manner the case is being handled are likely to dominate the election campaigns.

Timeline

• September 19: Zubeen Garg dies while swimming in the sea in Singapore during a yacht party

• September 21: His mortal remains reach Guwahati; lakhs of his fans pay tribute

• September 23: Second post-mortem done hours before cremation, following demand by fans

• September 25: Assam government forms a nine-member SIT headed by special DG, CID

• October 2: Zubeen's manager Siddharth Sharma and Shyamkanu Mahanta, organiser of Northeast India Festival in Singapore, arrested in Delhi following their return. Murder charge added

• October 3: Zubeen's bandmates, musician Sekhar Jyoti Goswami and female singer Amritprabha Mahanta, arrested.

• October 4: Goswami alleges Zubeen was poisoned by Sharma and Mahanta in Singapore

• October 8: Zubeen's cousin Sandipan, a police officer, arrested by SIT

• October 10: Zubeen's two PSOs arrested after transactions of over Rs 1 crore detected in their bank accounts

• October 17: Singapore police say, based on preliminary investigation, no foulplay was suspected in the incident

• November 25: The Assam Chief Minister says Zubeen's death was a "simple, plain murder" case