In a dramatic development, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has officially classified the death of beloved singer Zubeen Garg as a murder, vehemently dismissing any notion of it being an accidental demise. This stark declaration was made during an address in the Assam Assembly, fundamentally shifting the narrative around the tragic event that occurred in Singapore.
The Official Declaration and Accused
CM Sarma left no room for ambiguity, stating that the state government's position has been clear from the outset. "It is a murder from the very first day," he asserted. The Chief Minister revealed the names of the four individuals now formally implicated in the murder case: Shyamkanu Mahanta, Siddharth Sharma, Amritprava Mahanta, and Shekhar Jyoti Goswami. All are currently detained as the investigation progresses.
Expressing the government's emotional stake in the case, Sarma affirmed, "Our emotions are with Zubeen. That is why we are probing Zubeen Garg’s murder." The singer passed away in Singapore on September 19, 2025, an event that sent shockwaves across India and particularly in his home state of Assam.
Legal Framework and Central Government Sanction
Explaining the legal hurdles, the Chief Minister detailed that for incidents occurring in a foreign country, prior sanction from the Central Government is mandatory under Section 208 of the BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita). This sanction is crucial for the court to take cognizance of the matter and proceed to trial.
In a significant breakthrough for the investigation, Sarma announced that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has granted the necessary sanction. This green light empowers the Assam Police to proceed with filing a chargesheet. "Today, Union HM Amit Shah has accorded a sanction to proceed with the matter further, and the sanction will enable us to give a chargesheet in time," Sarma stated.
Probe Details and Timeline
The Chief Minister provided a timeline of the legal process, revealing that the initial investigation pointed towards foul play. "Right after the death we felt there was something amiss, which is why we registered an FIR under BNS sections 61 (criminal conspiracy), 105 (culpable homicide), and 106 (causing death by rash and negligent act)," he explained.
He emphasized that the police were convinced early on that it was a "plain and simple murder." This conviction led the state government to approach the court within two days of the incident, seeking the addition of the stringent Section 103 (punishment for murder) to the charges. All subsequent legal proceedings, including bail applications, have been conducted based on this murder charge.
With the central sanction now in place, CM Sarma has set an aggressive timeline for the conclusion of the investigation. He assured that the probe would be wrapped up within 10 to 15 days, with the chargesheet filed before the deadline of December 10.
