Singer Zubeen Garg was “deliberately poisoned” by his manager Siddharth Sharma, who “arranged foreign liquor to conceal his conspiracy”, the investigation into the death case of Assam’s iconic singer has revealed. The details are part of the remand copy of Sharma, who is one of the accused in the case. Garg died under mysterious circumstances in Singapore on September 19 while swimming in the sea.
The remand note, prepared by the Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell, Assam, makes startling revelations against Sharma, who is accused for grave offences, including criminal conspiracy, murder, and culpable homicide not amounting to murder, in the police FIR.
A key witness, identified as Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, has stated that Sharma forcibly took control of the yacht from Zubeen Garg prior to his death and conspired to project it as an accident, according to the remand copy, a copy of which is with Times Now.
Goswami alleged that Sharma and associate Shyamkanu Mahanta deliberately poisoned Zubeen and arranged foreign liquor to conceal their conspiracy.
Critical Moments Ignored
Witnesses revealed that during Garg’s last moments, when he was gasping for breath, Sharma allegedly said: “Jabo de, jabo de” (let him go, let him go), dismissing his condition as acid reflux.
Failure to Explain
The accused has provided no satisfactory explanation regarding the supply of liquor and women to Garg before his death. The remand note stresses that prima facie evidence establishes Siddharth Sharma’s culpability in the “early demise of Zubeen Garg.”
‘Zubeen Garg Was an Expert Swimmer, Could Not Have Died Due to Swimming’: Eyewitness
The accused, Siddharth Sharma, is accused of grave and non-bailable offences such as criminal conspiracy, murder, and culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Material evidence collected during investigation, including documentary records, financial transactions, and witness statements, prima facie establishes his culpability, as per the remand note.
Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, who is one of the key witnesses in the case, revealed that Sharma, who stayed with him in Room at the hotel, had displayed suspicious conduct.
Goswami further stated that the accused forcibly took control of the yacht from its sailor, causing it to wobble dangerously in mid-sea, thereby endangering all passengers. He also revealed that Sharma had asked organisers not to arrange drinks, claiming that he alone would provide them.
During the critical moments when Zubeen Garg was gasping for breath, Sharma was allegedly heard shouting “Jabo de, jabo de” (let him go, let him go), the remand note stated. The witness emphasised that Zubeen Garg was an expert swimmer who had trained both him and the accused, and therefore could not have died due to drowning. He alleged that Sharma and Shyamkanu Mahanta had poisoned the victim and deliberately chosen a foreign venue to conceal their conspiracy. Sharma also instructed him not to share the yacht videos with anyone, Goswami told the police, as per the remand note.
“When Zubeen Garg was frothing at the mouth and nose, the accused Siddharth Sharma dismissed it as acid reflux and assured others there was nothing to worry about. Instead of providing necessary medical facilities, he facilitated the early demise of Zubeen Garg,” the remand note said.
Assam to Set up Judicial Commission to Probe Zubeen Garg’s Death
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday announced a judicial commission to probe the death of the state’s cultural icon.
The commission will be headed by Justice Soumitra Saikia of the Gauhati High Court, he said in a Facebook live.
“We will form the commission tomorrow. Now, we request all the people who have any information or videos related to Zubeen Garg’s death to come forward and depose in front of the commission,” he added.
Garg had gone to Singapore to attend the 4th edition of the NorthEast India Festival.
The CID is currently probing the case of Garg’s death after more than 60 FIRs were lodged across the state.
