The Assam Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) special investigation team has arrested Sandipan Garg, an Assam Police Service officer, in relation to the death of famous singer Zubeen Garg, who drowned in Singapore last month. Sandipan, who is a cousin of the deceased artist, holds the position of Deputy Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) in Kamrup district. After being interrogated, he has been remanded to seven days of police custody. He was present with Zubeen in Singapore during the incident that led to the 52-year-old singer’s death while swimming on September 19. With Sandipan’s arrest, the total number of individuals detained in this case has risen to five.
This includes Shyamkanu Mahanta, the organizer of the North East India Festival, the singer’s manager Siddharth Sharma, band member Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, and artist Amritprava Mahanta, all of whom are still in CID custody. The CID initially charged the suspects with culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy, and negligence, subsequently elevating the charges to murder following further investigations. Additionally, investigators have opened a separate case against Mahanta for alleged financial misconduct, seizing various seals and documents from his residence in Guwahati. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has indicated that central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department, may soon conduct raids related to this investigation.