Shocking Find in Zubeen Garg Death Case: 1 Crore Transaction Found in Security Guards' Accounts

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Has Requested the IT Department and the ED to Probe the Financial Angle of the Case

In a breakthrough in the Zubeen Garg death investigation, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has found a transaction of around Rs. 1 crore in the bank accounts of the late singer’s personal security guards, raising serious suspicions of murder.

Earlier, Zubeen's manager Siddhartha Sharma, musician Shekharjyoti Goswami, singer Amritprava Mahanta, and North East India Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta were arrested in connection with the singer's death.

Suspicious Transaction & Monetary Angle 

Assam Police has found around one crore in the bank accounts of two personal security officers of the late singer, sources said.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has revealed that the government has requested the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate to probe the financial angle of the case.

“I am confident that the ED and IT Department will look into the financial discrepancies connected to Shyamkanu Mahanta. We are working closely with them to make sure that no one involved in Zubeen Garg’s death can evade responsibility,” the CM said.

“I hope the central agencies will take cognisance of it," the CM was quoted by the Times of India as saying.

"Our entire concern now is whether the people living in Singapore will come or not. If they do not come, we will not be able to complete the inquiry. They were the main people behind the yacht trip," Sarma told reporters after meeting Garg's family.

The Chief Minister also remarked that Mahanta was known for cultivating connections with influential individuals. “His primary job seemed to be taking photographs with various people. If the pictures stored on his mobile phone are made public, they will include politicians, journalists, and many others. However, such photos have no relevance to the ongoing probe. We also have records of several individuals who travelled with him to Bangkok, but those details are unrelated to this case,” Sarma added.

About Ongoing Investigation

In a key development in the ongoing probe into the mysterious death of singer-actor Zubeen Garg, Rupkamal Kalita, one of the eight individuals who were reportedly with the artist during his final moments in Singapore, appeared before the Assam Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Tuesday.

The other seven witnesses, all of whom were part of the yacht outing when Garg died on September 19, are yet to respond to the CID’s summons.

“We hope the others will follow soon. Some are still unwilling to return, but we are maintaining pressure as their statements are vital for concluding the investigation quickly,” Assam CM said. 

The Chief Minister clarified that Assam Police will not visit Singapore, as they lack jurisdiction in another country.

Did Manager Poison Zubeen?

Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, the bandmate of Assam’s cultural icon, has alleged that the singer was poisoned in Singapore, which led to his death, according to official documents with the police.

“During the critical moments when Shri Zubeen Garg was gasping for breath, almost drowning, Siddharth Sharma was heard shouting ‘Jabo de, jabo de’ (let him go, let him go). The witness emphasised that Zubeen Garg was an expert swimmer... and therefore, could not have died due to drowning.”

“He (Mr. Goswami) alleged that Shri Sharma and Shri Shyamkanu Mahanta had poisoned the victim and deliberately chosen a foreign venue to conceal their conspiracy. Shri Sharma also instructed him not to share the yacht videos with anyone,” stated the note, signed by SIT member and senior SP Rosie Kalita.

“The statement of witness Shri Shekhar Jyoti Goswami... revealed that before the death of Zubeen Garg, a conspiracy was formulated to portray his death as accidental. He stated that Shri Siddharth Sharma, who stayed with him... in Singapore, had displayed suspicious conduct,” the note said.

Under mysterious circumstances, Garg died in Singapore on September 19 while swimming in the sea. He had gone to the Southeast Asian nation to attend the 4th edition of the Northeast India Festival.

More than 60 FIRs were filed across the state against Mahanta, Sharma, and several others, following which Sarma had directed the DGP to transfer all cases to the CID and register a consolidated case for a thorough investigation.