Tezpur: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday alleged that celebrated singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg was murdered in Singapore, where he died under mysterious circumstances in September. Garg reportedly drowned while swimming in the sea on September 19 after travelling to Singapore to attend the 4th edition of the North East India Festival.

"I am not terming it an accident. The charge sheet in Zubeen Garg's murder case needs to be submitted by December 17. I have set a target to submit it by December 8. We are ready now," Sarma told reporters.

The Chief Minister did not disclose any evidence supporting the murder claim. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam Police is probing the case, following more than 60 FIRs filed across the state.

Sarma explained that since the incident occurred abroad, necessary clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is required to proceed. "If any incident takes place abroad, an approval is required from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Yesterday, I met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to get an approval soon. Then, we will file the charge-sheet," he said, adding that the SIT will write to the MHA within the next few days.

When asked whether the Assam government had issued any funds to the North East India Festival, Sarma denied it.

Authorities have arrested seven individuals, including festival chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma, band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta, the singer’s cousin and Assam Police DSP Sandipan Garg, and Garg’s PSOs Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya. Investigations revealed large financial transactions amounting to over Rs 1.1 crore in the accounts of the PSOs.

All seven accused are currently in judicial custody and face charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence.

Meanwhile, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) is conducting its own independent investigation into Garg’s death. In an October 17 statement, the SPF stated that preliminary findings showed no indication of foul play and that the investigation could extend up to three more months before submission to the state coroner.

With inputs from PTI