Singer and music icon Zubeen Garg passed away in Singapore under circumstances that have left fans both heartbroken and puzzled. Known for his soulful voice and larger-than-life personality, the 52-year-old artist was reportedly on a yacht outing off Lazarus Island when tragedy struck. What was first believed to be a case of drowning has now taken a shocking turn.
Zubeen Garg’s manager arrested as murder conspiracy alleged
Zubeen Garg’s long-time manager, Siddharth Sharma, was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on October 1 on charges of criminal conspiracy, murder, and culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The arrest followed a statement from a key witness who alleged that the popular singer had been “poisoned.”
Garg’s mysterious demise took place on September 19 while he was swimming during a yacht outing organised as part of the 4th edition of the Northeast India Festival in Singapore. Initial reports cited drowning, but the SIT’s remand note, accessed by TOI City Desk, suggests a far darker possibility.
Bandmate alleges Zubeen Garg was poisoned
According to the remand note, witness Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, Garg’s close associate and bandmate, made a statement under Section 175 BNSS to the SIT, alleging that Sharma and festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta “had poisoned the victim and deliberately chosen a foreign venue to conceal their conspiracy.” Goswami further claimed that Sharma had instructed him not to share any yacht videos with anyone. He also alleged that Sharma forcibly took control of the yacht, causing it to wobble dangerously.
Suspicious actions raise major concerns
Goswami alleged that Sharma insisted on personally supplying liquor for the outing and told organisers not to arrange any drinks themselves, a move that raised suspicions about what was being served. During Garg’s final moments, when he was gasping for breath and frothing at the mouth and nose, Sharma allegedly dismissed the symptoms as “acid reflux” and was heard shouting, “Jabo de, jabo de” (let him go, let him go), a statement now considered central to the investigation.
Bandmate questions drowning theory
Goswami also said that Garg was an expert swimmer who had trained both him and Sharma, making accidental drowning highly unlikely. This revelation has cast further doubt on the initial explanation of his demise.The SIT’s remand note also mentions statements from co-singer Amrit Prabha Mahanta and actress Nishita Goswami, who corroborated that Sharma had facilitated Garg’s access to liquor and inappropriate company. This included arranging shared accommodation for Garg and his female co-singer at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Singapore.
Investigators uncover troubling evidence
The remand note further highlights Sharma’s failure to provide any satisfactory explanation regarding the supply of liquor and the company arranged for Garg prior to his demise. Material evidence, including documentary records, financial transactions, and witness statements, prima facie establish Sharma’s culpability in what has now become a major criminal case.As the investigation unfolds, family, fans, and colleagues of Zubeen continue to demand justice for the much-loved singer whose passing has left a deep void in the music industry. Go to Source
