The investigation into the death of renowned Assamese singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore took a significant turn on Tuesday with the arrest of Sandipan Garg, the singer’s cousin and an Assam Police Service officer. Sandipan, who had accompanied Zubeen to Singapore, was apprehended by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Assam’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Sandipan Garg, serving as Superintendent of Police (In-Charge) with the Assam Police Service (APS), is the fifth person to be taken into custody in connection with the singer’s demise on September 19, 2025, during a cultural festival in Singapore.
“We have arrested Sandipan Garg. Now, we are doing the necessary legal formalities," said CID Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta, confirming the arrest. Another senior officer added, “Our team has taken him to a court here. We will seek police remand."
The officer had already been questioned multiple times over the past few days regarding events surrounding Zubeen’s death. He has been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence.
Earlier arrests in the case included the singer’s manager Siddhartha Sharma, musician Shekharjyoti Goswami, singer Amritprava Mahanta, and North East India Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, who remain in police custody.
Also read: Bandmate claims Zubeen Garg poisoned in Singapore
At a recent media briefing in Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma noted that, aside from Rupkamal Kalita, who was present on the yacht during the incident and had complied with CID summons, seven others present during the singer’s last moments had not responded to inquiries. “The CID had issued summons to eight out of the 11 people who were on the yacht with the singer when the incident happened," he said.
Allegations have surfaced suggesting foul play. According to Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, a member of Zubeen Garg’s band, the singer may have been poisoned by manager Siddhartha Sharma and festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta. Goswami reportedly recounted the harrowing moment when Sharma was heard shouting ‘Jabo de, jabo de’ (let him go, let him go) while Garg struggled in the water. The ‘Detailed Grounds of Arrest’ document cited Goswami’s claim of a “conspiracy" to portray the death as accidental.
Further updates regarding the investigation and charges are awaited as authorities continue their probe into the circumstances of Zubeen Garg’s untimely death.
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