Himanta Biswa Sarma; Zubeen Garg

NEW DELHI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday claimed that state icon and celebrated singer Zubeen Garg was “murdered,” even as investigations into the case remain underway. Garg died under mysterious circumstances while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19. He had travelled there to attend the fourth edition of the North East India Festival (NEIF). “I am not calling it an accident. The charge-sheet must be submitted by December 17, but I have set a target to file it by December 8. We are ready now,” Sarma told reporters, according to news agency PTI.The chief minister, however, did not disclose what prompted investigators to classify the case as murder. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Assam Police is probing Garg’s death after more than 60 FIRs were lodged across the state. Sarma added that he had met Union home minister Amit Shah to seek expedited approval to file a charge-sheet in the case, as Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) approval is required to file a charge-sheet in incidents that occur abroad.“If any incident happens abroad, approval is needed from the MHA. Yesterday, I met the Union home minister to fast-track the process. The SIT will approach the MHA within the next three to four days to seek the necessary clearance before filing the charge-sheet,” he stated. When asked whether the Assam government had extended any financial assistance to the NEIF, Sarma replied it had not. Those arrested in connection with the case include NEIF chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma, and two band members — Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta. The singer’s cousin, Assam Police DSP Sandipan Garg, was later taken into custody as well.Two of Garg’s personal security officers, Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya, were also arrested after police uncovered alleged financial transactions worth over Rs 1.1 crore in their accounts. All seven accused are currently in judicial custody and have been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence.