New Delhi: The Singapore Police Force (SPF) does not suspect foul play in the death of Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, based on preliminary investigations. The SPF in a statement Friday also said they expect the full investigation to take up to three months.
Garg, 52, died in Singapore on 19 September. He was in the nation to perform at the Northeast India Festival and is believed to have passed away while swimming.
The Assam government has opened a number of investigations into Garg’s death, which has reverberated across the state and spawned a number of theories.
“The case is currently being investigated by the SPF, in accordance with Singapore’s Coroners Act, 2010. Based on preliminary investigations, the SPF does not suspect foul play,” the police statement said.
“Upon completion of the SPF’s investigations, which may take up to another three months or so, the findings will be submitted to the State Coroner in Singapore, who will then determine whether to hold a Coroner’s Inquiry (“CI”). A CI is a fact-finding process led by a Coroner, who is a Judicial Officer of the Courts, to establish the cause and circumstances of death. Its findings will be made public upon conclusion,” it added.
The statement also noted that despite the ongoing investigation, the police had shared the autopsy report of Garg and preliminary findings with the High Commission of India on 1 October.
The head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the government of Assam, Munna Gupta, will travel to Singapore on 20 October and meet with his Singaporean counterparts on 21 October as part of their investigation into Garg’s death.
“Another step forward towards justice for our beloved Zubeen. The Singapore Police authorities will meet the Assam Police team led by Sri Munna Gupta, ADGP and Head of SIT, on 21st October. Our team will travel to Singapore on 20th October accordingly. Our collective resolve remains — Justice for Zubeen will prevail,” Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam, said in a statement on X Thursday.
Sarma earlier Thursday met with Alice Cheng, Singapore’s Acting High Commissioner, where the status of the investigation into Garg’s death was one of the topics discussed.
The SIT constituted by Sarma’s administration has promised to submit its report by the end of November and a chargesheet will be submitted by the first week of December, according to reports.
Two of the accused in Garg’s death, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta, were produced before the Guwahati High Court Thursday, while five accused were sent to judicial custody by the court Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the many individuals who paid tribute to Garg after his death. The Assamese cultural icon was cremated in Guwahati with state honours and a 21-gun salute.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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Obviously there is no foul play. It’s a repeat of sushant Singh (I believed at one point of time that he was murdered) and all this conspiracy theories created by media and influencers.
People just can’t accept reality and hopefully as people mature they understand this.