Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has formally requested the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to invoke the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Singapore regarding the ongoing investigation into the death of renowned singer Zubeen Garg.

The Chief Minister confirmed the communication, stating that the move is essential for advancing the case.

"Invoking Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with Singapore will give us crucial access to Zubeen Garg death case details and help us bring back the accused involved in the matter," Chief Minister Sarma said.

The government's international push follows mounting domestic pressure and allegations of conspiracy surrounding the singer-composer’s death. Zubeen Garg died in Singapore on September 19 after reportedly drowning while swimming without a life jacket during a yacht trip organized by members of the Singapore Assam Association.

The state has constituted a 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Special DGP M P Gupta, to probe all angles of the incident.

Family Files Complaint

Garg's family, including his wife Garima and his uncle Manoj Kumar Borthakur, has filed a formal complaint with the state CID seeking a thorough probe into the circumstances leading to his death. They specifically urged police to investigate:

* Those present on the yacht trip during the fatal incident.

* The organizer of the North East India Festival, Shyamkanu Mahanta.

* Steps to secure the copyrights of Garg’s creative works.

Associates Questioned and Lookout Notices Issued

The SIT has quickly moved to interrogate key figures associated with the trip. Three close associates of Garg—actor Nishita Goswami (who was present during the incident), singer Amritprava Mahanta, and musician Shekharjyoti Goswami—have appeared before the CID to record their statements.

Chief Minister Sarma has taken a hard line against those who have failed to cooperate. He previously announced that lookout notices were issued through Interpol against Mahanta and Garg's manager, Siddharth Sharma, to prevent them from leaving the country. The Chief Minister has also given them a deadline to appear before the CID after the Durga Puja festivities.

A senior police officer confirmed that the SIT is actively examining the family's complaint. The officer also mentioned that two Assam Police officers are likely to visit Singapore soon following the completion of official formalities, and the Chief Minister has warned that the case could be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if the SIT fails to reveal the complete truth.