The investigation into the mysterious death of iconic Assamese singer Zubeen Garg has taken a dramatic turn. The Assam Police CID’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Wednesday arrested five individuals, including the singer’s cousin Sandipan Garg, a serving Assam Police Service (APS) officer, in connection with the case.
Sandipan Garg, currently posted as Deputy Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) in Kamrup district, was detained after four days of questioning. The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Kamrup (Metropolitan) has remanded him to seven days’ police custody.
Special DGP (CID) M.P. Gupta confirmed the arrest, stating,
“Following interrogation, Sandipan was taken into custody for further investigation. Since the probe is ongoing, additional details cannot be disclosed at this stage.”
This marks the fifth arrest in the high-profile case that has rocked Assam’s cultural and political circles.
Zubeen Garg, aged 52, died in Singapore on September 19 while attending a yacht party hosted by Assamese NRIs. Initially reported as an accidental drowning, the case was re-classified after inconsistencies emerged in witness statements.
According to investigators, Sandipan Garg had accompanied the singer on the Singapore trip and was present at the scene when the tragedy occurred.
Earlier, the CID arrested Shyamkanu Mahanta, organiser of the North East India Festival (NEIF) in Singapore, along with Siddharth Sharma (Garg’s manager), Shekhar Jyoti Goswami (bandmate), and Amritprava Mahanta (singer).
Officials later added murder charges, following fresh evidence suggesting possible foul play. CID sources revealed that financial irregularities and forged documents were also uncovered during raids at Mahanta’s residence in Guwahati.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that central agencies including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax Department (IT) have been asked to assist in the financial investigation.
Garg’s wife and sister have formally requested the authorities to ensure transparency in the probe, citing growing suspicion surrounding the circumstances of his death. Across Assam and the Northeast, fans continue to hold candlelight vigils in his memory.
Zubeen Garg’s passing has sent shockwaves through India’s artistic community. What began as a suspected drowning has evolved into a complex criminal investigation linking celebrity networks, official power, and alleged corruption. The coming weeks are expected to determine whether justice and truth finally surface.
