In a significant development, two senior officers from the Assam Police arrived in Singapore on Monday, October 20, 2025, to meticulously investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of renowned singer Zubeen Garg, who passed away in the island nation last month.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) operating under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Assam Police is currently spearheading the inquiry into Garg’s death, following the registration of over 60 First Information Reports (FIRs) across the state.
The investigating team includes CID Special Director General of Police Munna Prasad Gupta and Titabor Co-District Superintendent of Police Tarun Goel, who traveled from Guwahati. Mr. Gupta leads the nine-member SIT, with Mr. Goel serving as a key member.
Officials revealed that the two SIT members are scheduled to visit the exact location where Garg tragically passed away. “Establishing a clear link between the sequence of events and the place of occurrence is paramount to the entire investigation,” an official stated. Furthermore, the Assam Police delegation will engage in crucial discussions with their Singaporean counterparts to advance the case.
The celebrated artist died under perplexing circumstances in Singapore on September 19, while reportedly swimming in the sea. He had been in the Southeast Asian nation to attend the 4th edition of the North East India Festival.
The SIT also plans to interview the yacht pilot and attendant to gather precise details of the incident. The team intends to visit the five-star hotel where Garg was staying, scrutinizing every possible angle of the case.
Earlier, the Indian government invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Singapore, formally requesting cooperation in the investigation into the singer’s death. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is also conducting its independent inquiry into the incident.
In a statement released on October 17, the SPF indicated that preliminary investigations have so far shown no signs of foul play in Garg’s death. They also mentioned that the investigation into the popular Indian singer-songwriter-composer’s demise could extend for another three months or more, after which the findings would be presented to the State Coroner for further proceedings.
To date, the Assam Police have questioned 10 out of 11 Assamese expatriates from Singapore against whom summonses were issued; the remaining individual is a citizen of Singapore.
It was revealed that a yacht had been chartered by several office bearers of the Assam Association Singapore, and these 11 individuals were present when Garg reportedly drowned in the sea.
Previously, Shyamkanu Mahanta, the chief organizer of the North East India Festival, along with the singer’s manager Siddharth Sharma, and two of his band members, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta, were apprehended.
Subsequently, Garg’s cousin and Assam Police DSP Sandipan Garg was also arrested in connection with the singer’s death in Singapore.
Adding to the list of arrests, Zubeen Garg’s Personal Security Officers (PSOs), Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya, were taken into custody after police uncovered substantial financial transactions, exceeding ₹1.1 crore, within their bank accounts.
All seven individuals currently remain in judicial custody. They face charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence.