Assam Police arrests security personnel as investigation into Zubeen Garg’s death deepens with multiple arrests.
The Assam Police has taken significant action by arresting two personal security officers of the late singer Zubeen Garg in connection with his drowning death during a yacht trip in Singapore last month. This arrest, reported by PTI, raises the total number of arrests in the ongoing investigation to seven.
The two officers, Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya, were part of a security detail that was deputed to Garg by the state government in 2013. Following several rounds of questioning, the officers were suspended by the police on Tuesday, highlighting the serious nature of the investigation.
Zubeen Garg, a well-known Assamese singer, tragically passed away on September 19, just one day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival in Singapore. This festival was organized by the Indian government and the Indian High Commission in Singapore, with support from the Assam Association and the North East India Association.
A death certificate issued by Singaporean authorities on September 20 attributed Garg’s demise to drowning. The Singapore Police Force has indicated that it provided the Indian High Commission with a copy of Garg’s autopsy report along with preliminary findings. Notably, the police ruled out foul play in the initial stages of their investigation.
In response to the circumstances surrounding Garg’s death, the Assam Police established a Special Investigation Team, led by Special Director General of Police MP Gupta. The team is tasked with examining the case filed by the Criminal Investigation Department. On Friday, Gupta confirmed that the arrested security personnel had been presented before the chief judicial magistrate court.
Details regarding financial irregularities have surfaced as a significant focus in the investigation. The Special Investigation Team identified unusual financial transactions in the bank accounts of the two officers, which were considerably higher than their known salaries. Reports indicate that one officer had Rs 70 lakh while the other had Rs 40 lakh in their accounts, raising questions about the source of these funds.
The latest arrests follow the earlier detention of Garg’s cousin, Deputy Superintendent of Police Sandipan Garg, who was with the singer during the ill-fated trip. After five days of questioning, Sandipan was arrested and is believed to have brought back some of Zubeen Garg’s personal belongings to India post his death.
Earlier on October 3, police also arrested two musicians, Shekharjyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta, who had accompanied Zubeen Garg to Singapore for the festival. Additionally, on October 1, the police had charged Zubeen Garg’s manager, Siddharatha Sharma, and the North East India Festival organizer, Shyamkanu Mahanta, under sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita relating to murder. Both were remanded to 14 days in police custody after being booked for criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and causing death by negligence.
The investigation continues as more than 50 first information reports have been filed against Sharma and Mahanta following the singer’s death, reflecting the public’s demand for accountability and justice in this high-profile case.
