The investigation into the mysterious death of Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg has deepened, with two more Assamese expatriates from Singapore appearing before India’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Guwahati. Abhimanyu Talukdar and Tanmay Phukan provided their statements to authorities this week.
This brings the total number of Assamese expatriate citizens residing in Singapore questioned in connection with the case to seven. CID officials continue their efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding Garg’s death last month.
Talukdar and Phukan are reportedly prominent officials of the Assam Association Singapore. They were both present on the yacht where Zubeen Garg died on September 19.
Garg had traveled to Singapore to participate in the fourth North East India Festival. Following the event, he reportedly went swimming with companions in the sea, where he suddenly collapsed and drowned.
The case, initially reported as an accident, has since taken a turn towards potential foul play, with financial irregularities now a central focus. Public sentiment in Assam combines sorrow with anger over the singer’s passing.
The CID has made several arrests as part of its expanding probe. Those detained include Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma, festival chief organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta, and two of Garg’s band members, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta.
Garg’s cousin and Assam Police DSP Sandipan Garg has also been arrested. Investigating agencies claim to have found evidence of suspicious financial transactions in the bank accounts of these individuals.
Additionally, Zubeen Garg’s two personal security officers, Nandeshwar Bora and Pravin Baishya, have been taken into custody. Police identified suspicious transfers exceeding $132,000 (INR 1.1 crore) into their bank accounts.
All arrested individuals face serious charges, including murder, conspiracy to murder, and causing death by negligence. These accusations suggest a significant shift in the investigation’s focus from an accidental drowning.
The CID’s special investigation team is questioning every individual who was in close proximity to Zubeen Garg, either on the yacht or during the festival. A total of 11 expatriates present on the yacht received notices from the CID.
Previously, Rupkamal Kalita was the first to record a statement, undergoing over 24 hours of questioning before his release. The remaining individuals were subsequently re-summoned to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.