Who is Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, the musician detained in connection with Zubeen Garg’s drowning

Assam Police have taken musician Shekhar Jyoti Goswami into custody in connection with the death of renowned singer Zubeen Garg.

The 52-year-old singer tragically passed away on 19 September in Singapore during a swimming incident, where he had been scheduled to attend the Northeast India Festival.

Who is Shekhar Jyoti Goswami?

Shekhar Jyoti Goswami is a drummer and a long-time bandmate of Zubeen Garg.

According to his Instagram bio, he is also a sound engineer, music producer, and computer hardware engineer.

Goswami was present with the singer during his final moments in Singapore.

Upon returning, he gave statements to local media about the incident, saying, “After Zubeen Garg went swimming, he was reportedly floating face-down in water for a while. I approached him, turned him, and noticed ‘white liquid coming out of his mouth and nose.’”

He added, “I held the singer’s head up and if I moved Zubeen’s head to right, it would droop right, if he moved it left, it would droop left,” after which he reportedly called for help.

SIT probe into Zubeen Garg’s death

The Assam government has formed a ten-member Special Investigating Team (SIT) led by CID special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta to probe the singer’s death.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that if the SIT’s findings are deemed “unsatisfactory,” the government will recommend a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry.

The SIT is expected to question all people who accompanied Zubeen Garg, including members of the Assam Association in Singapore and organisers of the Northeast India Festival.

Autopsy and funeral details

A post-mortem examination conducted in Singapore confirmed drowning as the cause of death. A second autopsy was performed in Assam at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on 23 September, with results still awaited.

Zubeen Garg was cremated on Tuesday in Sonapur, Assam, with full state honours and a 21-gun salute. Chief Minister Sarma, MP Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, other officials, and artists paid their respects, joining lakhs of fans in singing his famous song Mayabini.