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In this edition of Newstrack, the focus is on the deepening investigation into the death of Assamese singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore.
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00:00Good evening, this is the news track and I'm Maria Shakil. We are tracking the investigation
00:07into the death of legendary singer Zubin Garg very, very closely. The tragic death of Assamese
00:14singer Zubin Garg in Singapore has taken a dramatic turn. What was initially treated as
00:21an accident is now under intense investigation with murder charges filed against his longtime
00:28manager and the festival organizer. Also, two musicians taken into custody. Questions about
00:36the circumstances of his death, conflicting post-mortem reports and calls for a central
00:43agency probe have sparked a nationwide debate. Was it truly an accident or is there more to the
00:51story? Tonight, we take you through the developments from arrests and court proceedings to the
00:56Singaporean autopsy report and public outrage unpacking the twists and turns in this high
01:02profile investigation.
01:10The investigation into Assamese music maestro Zubin Garg's death is deepening by the day.
01:17So far, four people have been arrested including the manager Siddharth Sharma, the event organizer
01:23Shamkanu Mohanto, co-singer Amrita Prabhav Mohanto, the bandmate Shekhar Goswami. They have been sent to
01:3014-day police remand. The SIT probe is being headed by special DGP of Assam police MP Gupta who claims
01:39that several NRIs are also under their radar. A judicial commission has been formed to investigate the case
01:45as announced by Assam chief minister Hemantu Biswasarma. The commission will be led by Justice
01:50Somitra Shoykiya.
01:52Meanwhile, the Singapore police force has shared a copy of the autopsy report of Zubin Garg and their
02:07preliminary findings with the High Commission of India. Was there any foul play in Zubin Garg's death?
02:26The musician's family and fans are waiting for answers.
02:35Get a report, India Today.
02:42The investigation into singer Zubin Garg's mysterious death is being carried out by the special
02:47investigation team which is being led by special director general of Assam police MP Gupta. We
02:54spoke to him some time ago and he revealed that several key suspects are currently being grilled
03:00while many others remain on the police radar as part of the ongoing probe. Listen in.
03:08As questions mount and fans moan the untimely demise of Zubin Garg, the public looks to the SIT for
03:16clarity and reassurance. While evidence remains off limits at this stage, the need for transparency in
03:23process, respect for due procedure and sensitivity to the family's ordeal is paramount. We are being
03:30joined by SIT chief MP Gupta who is also special DG of Assam police. He's joining me straight from Guwahati.
03:41Mr. Gupta, really appreciate your time here on India Today. With four arrests already made in this case,
03:48what factors are guiding the pace and timing of investigation?
03:58We are investigating the case and as you are already aware, four arrests have been made and we
04:06will try to bring the case to logical conclusion as early as possible. Investigation is continuing in
04:12the right direction. Sir, when you say investigation is continuing in the right direction, there is,
04:19there has been public concern particularly about delays in the arrest of the manager and the organizer.
04:25What specific legal or procedural challenges were holding up their delay?
04:32One of the accused persons was abroad, so we arrested him the moment he tried to enter India. The other accused
04:43person was hiding for some time. He was outside the state. But we made all efforts and he was also
04:52arrested without much delay. Mr. Gupta, Shyamkanu Mahanta, who has been arrested,
04:59has moved the Supreme Court and he has called Zubin Death's entire investigation as a witch hunt.
05:05And he's saying that there is some kind of false media narrative that is being built and it is also
05:12being some kind of media trial is being fueled against him. Of course, the Supreme Court will be
05:18hearing the plea. What are your thoughts on this entire point that has been made that this is a witch
05:24hunt and media trial? All I can say is that we are investigating the matter and the matter is still
05:33under investigation and we are investigating it as per the due process of law. And it is,
05:41we will conduct an impartial and fair investigation.
05:44Okay, you know, the arrests that have been made yesterday, Mr. Gupta, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, a musician and
05:54Zubin Garg's co-musician who was with him on the yacht and of Amrit Prabha Mahanta, a co-singer who was
06:02also with Garg on the yacht. Both have been charged with murder. So, are you seeing this entire murder
06:10investigation or should I say investigation into this death expanding further?
06:15Yeah, we are taking into account all the factors and all the leads that are available. So, all that
06:26I can say at this point of time is that we will take all the evidences that are available to conduct
06:33the investigation. A second autopsy was ordered in Assam. What led to this decision and how will this
06:41follow-up examination strengthen the investigative process? Since we are investigating the case here
06:49in Assam, so it was important for us to have a thorough autopsy conducted. Therefore, a panel of
06:57doctors was constituted by Guarti Medical College and they have conducted an autopsy and we will wait
07:07for their findings and we will take that into consideration for the investigation. When is the
07:12report expected, Mr. Gupta? And can you also give us a sense of the Visera report?
07:19Yes, the Visera report will come from the forensic science laboratory. It will come very soon and we
07:26are in touch with all the agencies and I am hopeful that we will get the report very soon. And specific
07:33charges on which the girl has been arrested as she was the one who made all the videos, sir?
07:40So, there are various angles which we are looking into and we will probe all the angles.
07:45And can you describe the involvement of the community members, you know, those party attendees,
07:50those NRIs who were present in the yacht at that particular time? Of course, I am not going to
07:58get into the evidence because that is the confidentiality of the investigation, but particularly
08:03the role of the NRIs. Yes, there were certain people and we will bring them also into the
08:12ambit of the investigation. And since they are staying abroad, so we will have to follow some
08:18procedures to join them in the investigation. So, we are following the due process of law.
08:24And how many of these people are there, sir, when you say that you have approached a number of them
08:28who will be joining the investigation? In all, how many? There were about 10 in the yacht.
08:37Okay. And how long will this investigation last, sir? Any deadline for the SIT to submit any kind
08:43of report to the state government? We will submit a report to the court as soon as the investigation
08:50is completed. It will not be appropriate for me to say any deadline. But all I can say is that we will
09:00make all efforts to complete the investigation at the earliest possible. And subsequent to that,
09:06we will submit our report in the court of law. Mr. Gupta, the case has drawn national attention.
09:12How is the SIT and you as an SIT chief ensuring that this investigation remains free from external
09:20influence and that you follow the standard procedures? Yes, of course, we will follow the
09:25procedures laid down in the law and all the procedures laid down in the BNSS will be followed.
09:33And we are following it and will ensure that it is an impartial proof. Garima Saikya Garg, wife of late
09:40Zubin Garg spoke to India today yesterday. And of course, she was raising concerns regarding the
09:45circumstances leading to his death. How is the SIT then engaging with the family and addressing their
09:51requests for transparency and also reassurance? Yes, we are in touch with the family and we will
09:59take their statements into account. They are very important statements and we will take their
10:04statements. We will record their statement. The process is already on and we will take that
10:09into account in the investigation. My last question to you, Mr. Gupta,
10:15are there more arrests likely in this case? I will not speculate at this point of time.
10:22We will see and we will decide as we go forward depending upon the evidence available. All right,
10:30Mr. MP Gupta, the head of the special investigation team, thank you for speaking to India today
10:36and thank you for giving us the latest in the investigation in the Zubin death case.
10:43So the SIT chief, they're not giving a clear timeline, but also saying that several NRIs who
10:49were there on the yacht on that unfortunate afternoon will be joining in the investigation.
10:55We have with us Kaushik Deka, a managing editor of India today magazine, someone who has been tracking
11:03the case very closely, understands Zubin Garg like no other. Kaushik, several aspects of the case being
11:10discussed. We have spoken to the wife. We have also spoken to the SIT chief. What are the unanswered
11:16questions according to you? The surprising factor here is that till two days back, it was the charges that
11:23were slapped against these individuals were culpable homicide, not amounting to murder. After that
11:29autopsy report came in yesterday, Singapore authorities handed over to Assam government,
11:35now murder charges have been slapped. So far we knew that Zubin perhaps died because of drowning.
11:42He was, whether or not he was drunk, he was unwell, we do not know because the investigation is still on.
11:49But after that autopsy report came in and also very significantly Garima Angar yesterday, when
11:56she spoke to you, she mentioned that she suspects foul play. Considering these two things and this
12:01sudden development about murder charges being slapped, now the case has got very mysterious. So for the
12:07videos that we have seen, whatever information is in public domain, we see that he jumped into the water
12:13twice, once with the life jacket, once without the life jacket. And after that, what happened? Nobody exactly
12:18knows the chronological order. But everybody in Assam, almost whosoever has written in public domain,
12:25they say that they suspect a foul play. At least they suspect negligence. Negligence on the part of
12:30the event organiser and the manager because it's a public knowledge that Zubin has been very unwell for
12:35last two, three years. He had several episodes of seizure attacks. So considering that, why he was taken
12:42to Singapore and then why he was taken on the yacht to water? Because doctors have already said that he
12:49should not go to water or the fire or he should not drive as Garima also mentioned yesterday. So
12:54these information was with the manager. And yet he took him to that. Also, he is a very close friend. He
13:01claims to be very close friend. So obviously, he also knew all these things. So considering this,
13:06why they had taken Zubin to Singapore and also he was not with someone who is responsible enough to
13:14take care of him, also to protect him, not to let him go to the water. So there is a clear case of,
13:19at least you can make a case of negligence. Negligence. But murder charges is very significant
13:24because this information, we do not know yet what is in the autopsy report from Singapore and what is in
13:30the autopsy report that was done in Guwahati. Of course, you know, the SIT chief who spoke to us,
13:37Kaushik says that he cannot give a timeline, a clear timeline as to when that report will be received
13:43by his force to carry forward the investigation. But the role of the NRIs, the Assamese NRIs who were
13:50present in that yacht is also a part of the investigation now. The scope has expanded.
13:56What do you think was their role? And what are you picking up?
14:00I think almost everyone in Assam, they had put a finger on these NRIs, so-called NRIs. I don't know
14:05whether all of them are NRIs or some are Indian citizens. They were part of the Assam Association,
14:11Singapore. So they had taken Zubin to that yacht party. Some of them had organized it and they,
14:17we could see that they were drinking and they were jumping into the water and all that. I do not know
14:21how many of them knew about Zubin's medical conditions. At least it's in public domain.
14:26So they should have probably known if they are great fan of Zubin as the understanding is given
14:31to us. So, of course, they should be investigated why they were so callous about Zubin's safety
14:38and Zubin's health. So they will be brought into the investigation.
14:40There is another aspect of this entire investigation and the manner in which this
14:44death mystery is now playing out, Kaushik. It is being said that this is being done because
14:52Zubin, the kind of popularity that he enjoyed, has been an icon of Assam's youth.
14:58So this is an issue that is being kept alive for personal and political gain.
15:04I will explain it this way. The moment Zubin died, the moment the news came to Assam,
15:09everyone in Assam, his fans said that why he was taken to water. Why? Because,
15:17despite his ill health, he was taken to Singapore. So this was the allegation that there was a case
15:22of negligence. They didn't say that they murdered him, but at least they were very callous and
15:26negligent to their favorite icon. So there was a huge anger against these event organizers and his
15:32manager. So this is very clear from day one. And you can see that Zubin was almost everyone's icon
15:39from the teenager to someone like the former CZI Ranjan Gogur. He was everyone's icon, but he had a
15:47huge popularity among the Jainji Brigade. So if you consider what has happened in our neighborhood,
15:53so no politician in this country will take any chance with the Jainji anger. So the government,
16:00what the government is doing is to give them a clear closure. The Assam CM, Himantaviswa Sarma,
16:08what he is trying to do or explain, he is coming repeatedly on social media live. He is trying to
16:13explain and he gave a press conference also. He is trying to explain to everyone that he is taking
16:18every possible measure. People were saying that why murder charges were not slapped. So he slapped that
16:24charge also. So probably he is letting the court speak that we did our job. We did whatever you
16:29wanted. Don't get so angry. Let the court now take the course. Okay. Thank you so much for speaking to
16:35us, Kaushik. And of course, this is a story we'll continue to track very, very closely given the
16:40sentiments which are attached to it. And thank you for telling me about Zubin Garg and the phenomena
16:46called Zubin Garg. And remember, Zubin's wife, Garima Saikya Garg, spoke exclusively to us yesterday,
16:55and she had raised some very disturbing questions about negligence. She believed that contributed to
17:02his death. She has challenged the official version, pointing to serious lapses. Listen in to this
17:09conversation. Garima ji, I know this is a heartbreaking moment for you and your family.
17:21With utmost respect for your grief, we would like to hear your heart, your memories and your truth.
17:29Ma'am, there are reports suggesting that Zubin's death was caused by drowning.
17:34Now, the Singapore police force has also said that in its first autopsy report that there is no foul play.
17:42They have ruled out foul play. But for you as his wife, what do you want people to understand
17:51about those final moments?
17:55Whatever I have seen from the videos circulated in social media,
17:59it's very clear that Zubin was extremely exhausted on that day. And while he was taken
18:10on a yacht party, for a yacht party, and he was taken into water, then once he swam and then came back,
18:20then he was very exhausted. Again, he was taken into water without a life check. So,
18:26when there was his manager was around, when his band members were around, two of his band members were
18:34around. And then the organizer, even the organizer, Mr. Shankar Moham, he claims to be a very close
18:40friend of ours, like a family member. So, while Zubin was not taken care of properly, while everyone knew
18:48that Zubin had some medical issues, he had seizure attacks before. So, the doctor had advised him to
18:57refrain from swimming from water, to stay away from water and fire. And we never allowed him driving also.
19:06And then, in that situation, he was taken into water. Then he was allowed to swim without a life check.
19:13So, that's the question for us. Why he was treated like that? Why he was not having proper, you know,
19:22medical assistance? Why he didn't have any security assistance? Why he was not taken care of? Why
19:28he had to face all this negligence? Because Zubin was not only my husband. Zubin was a legend. Zubin was a
19:36legendary artist. Zubin was everyone's heartbeat. He was called the heartthrope of a son. He was called the
19:42heartthrope of North East India. So, actually, one loved him like anything. And that, you know,
19:49that artist was so badly neglected. Absolutely. I understand. It must be extremely unsettling for
20:00you, Garimaji. You have raised some, you know, very concerning points with regards to his health
20:08condition that he was also exhausted on that particular day. Did his manager know about his
20:15health condition? Did Siddharth Sharma and also the festival organizer, Mr. Mahanta, know that
20:22Zubin Garg had to stay away from fire and also from water?
20:26Water. Water. Yes, yes. Since 2020, when he had his first seizure attack, since that time,
20:34Siddharth, Mr. Syamkarno Mohanta, Sheikh Hargur Swami, everyone knew about him. Everyone,
20:39everyone in Afghanistan, everyone knew about his condition. One doctor had advised on media also,
20:47everywhere they got to see. And these people were all the time around. So, as I knew, as our family members
20:54was in the same place. Still, he was not properly treated. What are the questions weighing most heavily
21:04on your heart? Because even as the SIT team met you some time back, and the reports coming in of two
21:12arrests which have happened already, so in all four arrests in this case. See, even though I have
21:21questions for those, some association members who were present in Singapore at that time on the
21:27field, they were also around. So, there were more than 10, 15 people. So, why no one was even concerned
21:36about it being 50? And now, since the proceedings are on, the investigations are on. So, I have to
21:42state in our legal system, the government also, and on the FCM, he has also taken this case very seriously,
21:51because Zubin, it's a case of Zubin love. So, everyone is, you know, very much concerned,
21:59and I have deep faith in our legal system. I hope I'll get to know the truth very soon, and
22:05I have requested for a faster investigation also, so the truth will come out soon. I have deep faith
22:11about it.
22:12So, Garima, Saikya, Garg there raising some very concerning questions. Perhaps the truth will come
22:19out, and there will be closure for Zubin's family and also his fans. That's all from me on this
22:26edition of the news track. Thanks so much for watching.
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