Days after the sudden death of singer Zubeen Garg, shocking claims have surfaced. His bandmate, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, has alleged that Zubeen’s manager and the organiser of his Singapore event deliberately poisoned him. Goswami, one of the four people arrested in connection with the case, said the accused chose a foreign location to cover up the act.
Apart from Goswami, Assam Police have arrested Siddharth Sharma (Zubeen’s manager), Shyamkanu Mahanta (event organiser) and musician Amritprava Mahanta. Murder charges have now been added to the ongoing investigation.
Sharma, named as an accused in the FIR, has been charged with serious non-bailable offences, including criminal conspiracy, murder and culpable homicide not amounting to murder, according to a report by NDTV.
What Goswami alleged
According to the SIT’s arrest documents, Goswami claimed that Sharma who was staying with him at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Singapore acted suspiciously before Zubeen’s death.
During the yacht trip, he allegedly took control of the yacht from the sailor, putting everyone at risk and insisted on providing drinks himself. When Zubeen struggled to breathe, Sharma reportedly said, “Jabo de, jabo de” (let him go) and dismissed his frothing as “acid reflux.”
Goswami insisted that Zubeen, an expert swimmer who had trained both him and Sharma, could not have drowned accidentally. He also claimed Sharma instructed others not to share videos from the yacht outing. Other witnesses reportedly supported Goswami’s account.
Wife suspects foul play
Zubeen’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, told India Today she suspected foul play. She added that Zubeen had no heart problems but suffered from seizures and doctors had warned him against water activities.
“He was taken to a yacht party, made to swim without a life jacket. Why was my husband treated like this?” she asked.
Denials of allegations
Both Sharma and Mahanta have denied the allegations during questioning. However, Goswami told investigators that when Garg began frothing from his mouth and nose, Sharma dismissed it as “acid reflux” and assured others there was nothing to worry about.
Judicial probe announced
Following the revelations, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that a judicial commission will be set up to investigate Zubeen Garg’s death.
Zubeen Garg, famous for his Bollywood and Assamese songs, died on September 19 while swimming near an island in Singapore. He had been on a yacht trip, accompanied by Goswami and Mahanta. He had gone to Singapore to perform at the North East India Festival, organised by Mahanta and his company.