Guwahati (Assam) [India], October 5 (HBTV): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday provided an update on the ongoing investigation into the alleged poisoning of popular singer Zubeen Garg during a yacht trip, stating that the viscera examination report is expected by October 10, with full details to emerge by the following day.
He emphasised that police are meticulously recording all witness statements in the case diary, while clarifying that recent media reports on poisoning stemmed from an accused’s claim rather than official police findings.
‘The viscera examination report of Zubeen Garg will be available on October 10, and we will know the details by October 11. The police’s duty is to record everything in the case diary as stated by witnesses. Some will say positive things, and others will say negative things, and the police will continue to document it all. However, these are not police statements; they are only witness statements. A witness’s statement is not a police statement. The news about poisoning published today is not a police statement; it is a statement from an accused. Whether he gave this statement to protect himself or to blame someone else will be revealed during the investigation,’ Sarma said.
The Chief Minister also urged the Assamese community to press for the swift return of key suspects currently in Singapore to avoid further delays in the probe.
‘Today, we are more concerned about whether the Assamese people currently in Singapore will return to cooperate with the investigation. If they do not come, we cannot complete the investigation. They were key individuals involved in Zubeen Garg’s yacht travel. The people of Assam should pressure the Assamese community in Singapore to ensure their return. Shyamkanu Mahanta, Siddharth Sharma, Shekhar, and Amritprava are already in our custody, and we will be able to uncover the truth. However, the critical issue is whether those in Singapore will return by October 6. If they do not, we will face another cycle of complications,’ he said.
Singer Zubeen Garg was allegedly poisoned in Singapore, and his manager Siddharth Sharma and festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta had allegedly chosen a foreign venue to conceal their conspiracy, according to a statement by the late singer’s bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami in official police documents.
Both Sharma and Mahanta have been arrested as part of the probe. Co-singer Amritprava Mahanta and Shekhar Jyoti Goswami have also been arrested in connection with the case.
According to the ‘Detailed Grounds of Arrest’ (remand note), Goswami alleged that a conspiracy was hatched to portray Zubeen Garg’s death as accidental.
On Saturday evening, Assam Police Service (APS) officer Sandipan Garg, who travelled to Singapore with the singer, appeared before the CID in Guwahati regarding the case.
Zubeen Garg passed away in Singapore on September 19 after an alleged drowning incident while attending the Northeast India Festival.
Goswami further alleged that Siddharth Sharma, who stayed with him in a Singapore hotel, had displayed suspicious conduct.
The remand note stated that during ‘the critical moments’ when Zubeen Garg was gasping for breath, almost drowning, ‘Siddharth Sharma was heard shouting “Jabo de, jabo de” (let him go, let him go).’
(ANI)