How Zubeen Garg died: Justice Saikia commission to probe foul play, conspiracy angles

The Assam government has formed a one-member judicial commission headed by Justice Soumitra Saikia of the Gauhati High Court to probe the death of singer-composer Zubeen Garg.

The commission, which will investigate the “facts and circumstances” leading to the death of Garg, will submit its report within six months, a circular issued by the Political Department on Friday said.

The notification was later shared on social media by the Chief Minister’s Office.

Garg died under mysterious circumstances in Singapore while swimming in the sea on September 19. The singer had gone to the Southeast Asian nation to attend the 4th edition of the NorthEast India Festival, organised by Shyamkanu Mahanta and his company.

The Justice Saikia commission will ascertain the sequence of events preceding and following the incident, the circular said.

The panel will examine if there were any lapses, acts of omission or commission, or negligence on the part of any individual, authority or institution in connection with the popular singer’s demise.

It will also ascertain whether any external factors, including the possibility of foul play, conspiracy, or unlawful acts, contributed to or were connected with the incident, the circular said.

Conspiracy theories have been doing the rounds since the singer’s death, the latest being the accusation of his bandmate, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, who alleged that Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma and festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta may have poisoned him.

Goswami told investigators that Sharma’s conduct in the hours leading up to Garg’s death in Singapore was suspicious.

The case is being investigated by the Assam CID. More than 60 FIRs have been lodged across the state against Siddharth Sharma, Mahanta, Goswami and seven others.