Guwahati, Sept 24: Senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly, Debabrata Saikia has written a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, seeking a CBI probe into the death of Assam’s cultural icon, Zubeen Garg.
Expressing serious concern about the “suspicious” circumstances surrounding the death of the singer in Singapore on September 19, 2025, Saikia stressed the urgent need for additional investigative support owing to jurisdictional constraints and substantial evidence suggesting a conspiracy.
“While the Assam government has initiated a CID investigation and formed a special investigation team, the death, having occurred in Singapore, presents unprecedented challenges that state police cannot adequately address,” the Congress leader stated in the letter.
“The Assam CID faces significant jurisdictional constraints as the state police have no authority to independently question Singapore-based witnesses. The investigation is entirely dependent on diplomatic channels that are beyond the capacity of the state government, and it is unable to coordinate international evidence collection without central support,” he stated.
“Preliminary pre-departure evidence suggests coercion in Zubeen Garg’s demise. Before his departure, Garg confided to close associates that he was not volunteering to travel but was doing so under significant pressure,” Saikia stated.
The Congress also stated that (NEIF) festival organiser, Shyamkanu Mahanta, had made contradictory statements that reveal either deliberate deception or criminal negligence.
“Pre-incident promotional materials indicated ‘Zubeen Garg will participate’ in the festival, but post-incident, Mahanta claimed Garg came to Singapore ‘only to take rest’. There are additional contradictions, such as initial claims about scuba diving, later changed to swimming, and a denial of knowledge about the yacht outing that led to the fatal swimming incident,” the Congress leader said.
“Most critically, Zubeen Garg had documented seizure disorders requiring restrictions from water activities, a fact confirmed by his wife. Despite his known medical vulnerability, he was encouraged to swim without a life jacket during his second attempt, with no family protection present to monitor his medical restrictions,” Saikia stated.
Given the jurisdictional constraints faced by the Assam CID and the compelling evidence of conspiracy, Saikia requested the appointment of a sitting or retired Gauhati High Court Judge to oversee and guide the investigation, providing the judicial authority to coordinate between the CID, CBI and international agencies.
“I also request that you direct the CBI to provide technical assistance to the Assam CID, deploying its expertise to assist in international evidence gathering, coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, and investigating the pre-departure coercion and contradictory statements,” he stated.
IANS
