Assam CM Himanta Sarma Orders SIT Probe Into Singer Zubeen Garg’s Death

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death of singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg, saying that “no one will be spared” if found responsible. The Chief Minister said he had held a high-level meeting with the DGP Assam Police, the ADGP (CID), senior police officials and the Chief Secretary of Assam to review developments in the case.

“In regard to the untimely death of our beloved Zubeen Garg, we will not spare anyone. I have instructed the DGP to constitute a Special Investigation Team with the best officers of Assam Police. The viscera samples will be sent to the Central Forensic Laboratory (CFL) in Delhi for detailed examination. The SIT will have full freedom to investigate

the case with complete professional integrity,” Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Zubeen Garg died on September 19 in Singapore at the age of 52, after suffering a seizure while swimming in the sea, which led to drowning. He was in Singapore to perform at the Northeast India Festival. Initial reports suggested a scuba diving mishap but the Singapore death certificate confirmed drowning as the cause.

The Assam government ordered a second autopsy, conducted in Guwahati in the presence of doctors from AIIMS. On September 23, Zubeen Garg was cremated with full state honours and a 21-gun salute, after tens of thousands joined the funeral procession. The state government declared three days of mourning.

The Assam government penalised festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, banning him from holding events in the state and blacklisting him from receiving government sponsorships or advertisements. Meanwhile, multiple FIRs have been filed against Shyamkanu Mahanta and Zubeen Garg’s manager Siddhartha Sharma under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide not amounting to murder and causing death by negligence.