Mystery Deepens Around Zubeen Garg’s Death, Cousin ‘DSP Sandipan’ Among 5 Arrested
The investigation into Assamese singer Zubeen Garg’s death has taken a sharp turn: five arrests, yacht interrogations, and a high-stakes viscera report expected soon. Here’s what we know so far.
Yesterday, Assam’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested DSP Sandipan Garg, a cousin of Zubeen Garg. He was aboard the yacht at Singapore’s Lazarus Island on September 19, the day Zubeen died. Sandipan had already been questioned seven times since September 30, but this arrest marks the fifth in the case so far.
The SIT Moves Fast: Key Arrests & Actions
This isn’t a case built overnight. The Assam government formed a nine-member SIT on September 24, led by Special DGP (CID) Munna Prasad Gupta. Since then:
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The residences of Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddharth Sharma in Guwahati were sealed; their bank accounts frozen.
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On October 1, Shyamkanu was arrested upon arriving in Delhi from Singapore. Sharma, Zubeen’s manager, was picked up near a tollgate in Haryana.
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The next day, drummer Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and singer Amritprabha Mahanta were arrested after days of questioning.
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On October 4, Assam formed a judicial commission under Gauhati HC Judge Soumitra Saikia to dig deeper into the circumstances of Zubeen’s death.
Who’s Been Called In for Questioning?
The SIT hasn’t held back. They’ve questioned a wide circle, from family and band members to media figures:
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Actress Nishita Goswami appeared twice, last on September 28.
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Sanjive Narain, linked to a Guwahati TV channel, was questioned for his presence in Singapore and hospital visits following Zubeen’s collapse.
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Journalists Pranay Bordoloi and Saraswat Goswami gave testimony on October 5.
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Others include Ritu Prayag Garg (another cousin), the studio team, driver, caretaker, singer colleagues, and members of the Assam Association Singapore. Some have yet to appear before SIT.
Postmortems and Viscera Report: Awaiting Clarity
Two postmortem reports from Singapore and Guwahati reached Zubeen’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg but she insisted they remain with courts or government agencies. Meanwhile, the Assam CM confirmed the viscera analysis from Delhi’s Central Forensic Laboratory would arrive by October 10, with details to follow by October 11.
What this really indicates is the investigation has upped its intensity. Arrests are high-profile, the chain of questioning is broad, and the forensic piece is looming large. The next few days could change the direction of the case entirely.
