Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday that the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will investigate the sudden death of popular singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore. The move comes amid growing questions about the circumstances surrounding the 52-year-old artist’s passing.
Assam Police have already started transferring multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) linked to the incident to the CID for a thorough probe. “We’ve filed several FIRs against Shyam Kanu Mahanta, the main organizer of the Northeast Festival, and Siddhartha Sharma, who managed Zubeen Garg,” Sarma explained. “I’ve instructed the Director General of Police to hand over all these cases to the CID for a single, detailed investigation.”
Zubeen Garg, best known across India for his hit song “Ya Ali” from the Bollywood movie Gangster, died on Friday afternoon. He suffered a seizure while swimming near a yacht in Singapore after complaining of shortness of breath. Rescuers gave him CPR and rushed him to Singapore General Hospital, but doctors pronounced him dead at around 2:50 p.m. Indian Standard Time.
Singapore authorities finished the post-mortem exam, and officials from the Indian embassy oversaw as Garg’s team received his body. The remains will undergo embalming before flying to New Delhi late Saturday. From there, a chartered flight will bring him to Guwahati early Sunday.
Once in Guwahati, the body heads straight to Garg’s home, where his father, wife, and other family members can pay their respects. After that, it will move to Sarusajai Stadium so fans and the public can say goodbye. Sarma stressed that the state won’t decide on funeral details alone. “We’ll consult Garg’s family, close friends, and community groups to set the time and place for the last rites,” he said. Assam will also declare a state holiday on the day of the cremation.
In honor of the singer, Assam has kicked off a three-day mourning period from September 20 to 22. During this time, the state will skip all official entertainment events, ceremonies, and government dinners.
Garg had flown to Singapore on Wednesday to perform at the Northeast Festival, set for September 19 to 21. As one of Assam’s most cherished voices, his death has hit hard, leaving a huge gap in the region’s music scene. Tributes have flooded in from fans in India and around the world, celebrating his lasting impact.
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