Guwahati, Assam: A pivotal moment in the investigation into the death of Assamese icon Zubeen Garg was reached today, as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Assam Police filed a massive 3,500-page charge sheet before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in Kamrup (Metro).
The extensive document, reportedly delivered in four large trunks, names seven individuals and treats the singer’s death in Singapore on September 19 as a case of “plain and simple murder” and conspiracy, as previously asserted by the state’s Chief Minister.
🏛️ The Charges: Breakdown by BNS Section
The SIT has invoked multiple sections of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), reflecting the different roles and degrees of culpability alleged against the accused.
1. Section 103 BNS: Punishment for Murder (Abetment/Conspiracy)
This section is the most serious charge (equivalent to the former IPC Section 302), primarily against those alleged to have planned or actively facilitated the death.
- Shyamkanu Mahanta: North East India Festival (NEIF) Organiser
- Siddharth Sharma: Singer’s Manager
- Amritprabha Mahanta: Co-Singer/Band Member
- Shekhar Jyoti Goswami: Bandmate/Musician
2. Section 105 BNS: Culpable Homicide Not Amounting to Murder
This charge suggests actions causing death without the direct premeditation required for murder (equivalent to the former IPC Section 304).
- Sandipan Garg: Cousin (Deputy Superintendent of Police – DSP Rank)
3. Section 316 BNS: Criminal Breach of Trust
This charge is linked to the financial and property-related aspects of the alleged conspiracy, including the recovery of large financial transactions from their accounts (equivalent to the former IPC Section 406).
- Nandeswar Bora: Personal Security Officer (PSO)
- Paresh Baishya: Personal Security Officer (PSO)
💰 Key Allegations and Investigation Highlights
- Conspiracy Angle: The investigation, which questioned over 300 people, centers on a “big story” involving a financial conspiracy that allegedly began before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Financial Irregularities: The arrests of the PSOs (Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya) followed the discovery of significant financial transactions, reportedly exceeding ₹1.1 crore, in their bank accounts.
- International Probe: The investigation involved cooperation with Singaporean authorities under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), as Zubeen Garg died while swimming off a yacht in Singapore.
- Judicial Next Step: The submission of the charge sheet concludes the police’s investigative role. The CJM Court will now scrutinize the evidence before the case is transferred to the Sessions Court for the formal trial proceedings.
🎙️ The Victim
Zubeen Garg, 52, was one of the most celebrated and highest-paid singer-composers from Assam, widely known for his pan-Indian hit ‘Ya Ali’ and his significant contributions to Assamese culture. His death in a foreign country under mysterious circumstances had led to over 60 FIRs across the state, prompting the formation of the SIT.
