When the news of Zubeen Garg’s death broke on September 19, it was described as a shocking mishap in Singapore during scuba diving or paragliding activities, with early reports suggesting the singer had drowned. But within hours, disturbing videos emerged showing Garg being led towards the sea from a yacht, accompanied by acquaintances, raising doubts over the official narrative. His medical history of seizures further intensified public concern over how he was allowed into such activities without supervision. Very quickly, what seemed like an accident began to appear as something far more sinister.
The tragedy took on an emotional dimension when Zubeen Garg’s body was flown into Guwahati on the night of September 21. Lakhs of people lined the roads, braving the night to pay tribute to their cultural icon. On September 22, his mortal remains were taken to the Sarusajai stadium, where thousands of grieving fans thronged for two days to offer their last respects. His cremation in Sonapur turned into a historic farewell, with calls rising for the site to be turned into a memorial. The scale of public mourning demonstrated not only Garg’s legendary status in Assam but also the collective demand for truth and justice.
The Assam government, under immense pressure, responded decisively. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted, and the case handed over to senior authorities to explore every angle. Soon, two major arrests followed—event organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and Garg’s manager, Siddharth Sarma—both picked up from the Delhi-NCR region and remanded to 14-day custody. The SIT filed CID PS Case No. 18/2025 under multiple sections of law, signaling that the matter was no longer seen as an accident but as a criminal conspiracy.
By October 2, the probe revealed even darker details. Eyewitness Goswami claimed that Sarma had forcibly taken control of the yacht, destabilizing it, and had insisted on serving Garg drinks himself. In the most chilling revelation, Goswami alleged that as Garg struggled in the water, Sarma shouted, “Jabo de, jabo de”—“let him go.” The statement, now part of the official record, has sent shockwaves across Assam, where fans are grappling with the possibility that their beloved singer may have been deliberately killed.
In response to public fury, the Assam government constituted a judicial commission led by Justice Soumitra Saikia of the Gauhati High Court. Meanwhile, the SIT has expanded its probe, issuing summons to members of the Assamese diaspora who were with Garg in Singapore and vowing to question all individuals linked to the case. With every new revelation, the line between tragedy and foul play grows thinner, leaving an entire state—and a nation—waiting for the truth behind the death of one of its most cherished cultural icons.
