The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the mysterious death of Assam’s celebrated singer and composer Zubeen Garg arrested Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sandipan Garg on Wednesday, adding a new twist to the high-profile case that has shaken the state’s cultural and public life.
According to official sources, the arrest came soon after Sandipan Garg appeared at the CID headquarters in Guwahati for questioning. He is expected to be produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court later in the day. The 38-year-old officer, also the cousin of the late singer, was reportedly present aboard the yacht in Singapore where the incident leading to Zubeen’s death unfolded.
Sandipan Garg had earlier taken to social media, claiming he had “fully cooperated” with the SIT during a lengthy interrogation session earlier this week. His detention marks the fifth major arrest since the SIT was formed under directions from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had ordered a transparent and time-bound probe into the circumstances surrounding Zubeen’s death.
On October 1, the investigation team had detained Zubeen’s long-time manager Siddharth Sharma and event organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, who had overseen the Singapore music festival where the singer was scheduled to perform. Both were booked on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. In the days that followed, two of Zubeen’s bandmates, musician Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and singer Amritprabha Mahanta, were also taken into custody and remanded to 14-day police custody for further questioning.
The SIT, led by CID Special DGP M. P. Gupta and Chief Investigating Officer Rosie Kalita, is pursuing multiple angles, including suspicions of foul play, financial disputes tied to the overseas concert, and gaps in the accounts given by those present. Investigators are piecing together the timeline of events on the yacht, which has become central to understanding the final moments of the singer’s life.
Zubeen Garg’s sudden death abroad has left an irreplaceable void in Assam’s cultural landscape. The singer, composer and actor had been a household name across the Northeast, with a career spanning over two decades that earned him immense popularity and affection. His passing has sparked grief as well as growing demands for accountability from fans and family alike.
The SIT has reiterated its commitment to a thorough probe, with officials stressing that no angle will be left unexplored. As the case widens to include the arrest of the singer’s cousin and a serving police officer, questions over trust, personal ties, and professional responsibility have intensified.
Public reaction in Assam has remained charged, with calls for justice echoing across social media and cultural platforms. For many, the ongoing investigation is not just about the loss of a beloved musician, but also about the credibility of institutions tasked with delivering truth and accountability.
