Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday refused to comment on proceedings in a Singapore court related to the death of singer-composer Zubeen Garg, saying politicians should not intervene in judicial matters, even as the artist’s wife publicly appealed for transparency and accountability.
Asked about the hearing before the Singapore coroner’s court, Sarma said, "I have read about it in the paper just as you all have. I don’t want to comment on it as people of Assam will analyse my words in different ways." He added, "Politicians should not get in matters related to court. We should stay away."
The chief minister said Singapore authorities had followed their legal process. "It is as per their process. Our process is different," he said.
The comments came a day after Singapore Police told a coroner’s court that Garg was “severely intoxicated” and drowned off Lazarus Island on September 19 last year after declining to wear a life jacket. The police said no foul play was suspected.
Garg, 52, had travelled to Singapore to attend the North East India Festival and died while swimming during a yacht outing.
In a detailed Facebook post addressed to the people of Assam and authorities in both countries, Garg’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, said the family continued to wait for the full truth to emerge. She pledged complete cooperation with investigations and urged the Indian government to closely monitor the proceedings in Singapore.
She said the family first developed doubts after videos from the yacht surfaced publicly. "The family came to know that the death was not normal and several suspicions arose from the visuals. Then immediately we filed an FIR for formal legal action," she wrote.
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Garima said Singapore Police had maintained regular communication with the family and that all statements and information were shared. She added that details were withheld publicly to protect the integrity of the investigation.
She noted that Singapore authorities initiated proceedings suo motu and that the Indian High Commission played an active role in coordinating legal and medical procedures, including the post-mortem examination.
According to her post, Garg’s uncle Manoj Kumar Borthakur submitted a detailed statement before the Singapore Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, raising questions on the planning of the September 19 outing, Garg’s medical condition, safety measures on board, response to visible distress, medical assistance and the finding of “no foul play”.
"These questions arise automatically and they are a family’s right and duty when a life ends suddenly under unclear circumstances," she said.
Appealing to both the Centre and the Assam government, Garima urged close monitoring of the Singapore proceedings and swift prosecution in India, warning against jurisdictional delays.
"We continue to seek only one thing: That the entire truth—every action taken, every word spoken, every moment lost—be fully and transparently examined and the guilty is punished to the highest level," she added.
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