The Assam Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Special Investigation Team (SIT) have dispatched a team to Singapore to investigate the death of Assamese singer Zubeen Garg. The two-member team, led by Special DGP (CID) Munna Prasad Gupta, arrived in Singapore on Monday, October 20, 2025, and is scheduled to meet with Singapore Police Force officials on Tuesday. The purpose of the visit is to obtain details of Garg's final moments and coordinate on evidence related to his death.
Zubeen Garg, a celebrated cultural icon in Assam, passed away on September 19, 2025, in Singapore. Initial reports suggest he died while swimming, a day before he was scheduled to perform at the Northeast India Festival. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is also conducting its own probe into the matter. Based on preliminary investigations, the SPF does not suspect foul play but has stated that the investigation may take up to three months to complete. The SPF has also urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information about the singer's death.
In connection with the investigation, the Assam Police SIT/CID has arrested seven individuals, including the main event organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta, Zubeen Garg's manager Siddharth Sharma, his cousin Sandipan Garg (a suspended APS officer), bandmates Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta, and two PSOs Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya. The CJM court in Guwahati has sent all seven accused to judicial custody. Five of the accused are currently lodged in Baksa district jail, while the other two are in Haflong jail.
The SIT is expected to submit the chargesheet of the case before the court by November 2025. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated that SIT Chief Munna Prasad Gupta will brief the media about the progress of the ongoing investigation following the team's return from Singapore. The SIT members are expected to seek CCTV footage from the hotel where Garg last stayed.
The investigation has sparked public interest and, at times, unrest. Violent protests erupted outside Baksa District Jail after the accused were brought to the facility. The district administration imposed prohibitory orders, restricting public gatherings to prevent further unrest. District Magistrate Gautam Das issued an order restricting all forms of public gatherings, rallies, demonstrations, and processions within a 500-metre radius of the Baksa jail.
The Assam government has also announced the formation of a committee, including Garg's wife Garima Garg and notable cultural figures, to oversee the construction of a memorial at Garg's resting place in Sonapur, near Guwahati. The government has approved the construction of a permanent Samadhi Kshetra for the singer, to be built by the Public Works Department. A fast-track court will be set up, and a Special Public Prosecutor will also be appointed to ensure a swift verdict.
