The Assam Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has stepped up its probe into the sudden death of singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore, issuing notices on Friday to individuals who were present or had knowledge of the events leading to his drowning on September 19.
A senior official confirmed that the notices require witnesses to appear before investigators within 10 days to record their statements.
“Investigation into Garg’s death is continuing. Today, we served notices to all persons familiar with the incidents leading to his death. They have to come and give their statements within 10 days,” the official said.
The development comes even as the CID’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Special DGP M P Gupta, continued searches at the Guwahati residence of North East India Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta for the second consecutive day.
On Thursday, the homes of Garg’s manager Siddhartha Sharma and musician Shekhar Jyoti Goswami were also searched. Both Sharma and Goswami were with Garg during the yacht trip in Singapore, where the singer drowned after reportedly removing his life jacket before swimming.
According to officials, members of the Assamese diaspora in Singapore who witnessed the incident are also under the ambit of the investigation. Additionally, several artistes and cultural figures appeared at the CID office on Friday, where their statements were recorded.
The 10-member SIT was constituted last week amid growing public pressure and demands from opposition leaders, including Congress’s Debabrata Saikia, for a CBI-monitored probe. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has assured that the government will recommend a CBI inquiry if the SIT’s findings are found to be “unsatisfactory.”
Garg’s death has plunged Assam and the wider Northeast into mourning, with lakhs paying tribute to the 52-year-old singer-songwriter, who was celebrated for his prolific career spanning over 40,000 songs in 39 languages. His passing has also triggered debates about safety lapses during the high-profile North East Festival in Singapore, which he was attending before the tragedy.
Meanwhile, Assam Police on Friday dismissed rumours circulating on social media about a statewide internet shutdown linked to the probe. “A fake message claiming that internet services across Assam will be disconnected is being circulated by mischief mongers. Please do not believe or spread such misinformation,” the police said in an advisory, warning of action against those spreading unverified claims.
The investigation remains ongoing, as the SIT pieces together the circumstances of Garg’s final moments on the ill-fated yacht trip.