Assam CID Summons 11 NRIs in Zubeen Garg’s Death Probe

GG News Bureau
Guwahati, 8th Oct: With the Assam CID’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) intensifying its probe into the mysterious death of singer Zubeen Garg, focus has turned to 11 NRIs of Assamese origin who attended the yacht party with him in Singapore on September 19 — a day before his scheduled performance at the Northeast India Festival.
Assam CID summons 11 NRIs in Zubeen Garg death probe; SIT questions one, others to join investigation soon.
According to CID sources, summons were issued to the eight NRIs through the Indian High Commission in Singapore with assistance from local police authorities. Later, three more individuals were served notices, directing all 11 to join the investigation by October 6. While none of them met the deadline, one of them, Rup Kamal Kalita, who had recently returned from Singapore, was questioned for nearly six hours on Tuesday. His statement has been recorded, and he will also be required to testify before a magistrate under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions.

SIT officials confirmed that all 11 have received the summons and are in communication with Indian authorities through the High Commission in Singapore. They are expected to appear for questioning sequentially. Among those summoned are Tanmoy Phukan — reportedly the organiser of the yacht party and an old acquaintance of Garg — along with key members of the Assam Association of Singapore, including its President Abhimanyu Talukdar and General Secretary Debjyoti Hazarika. Others named include Siddartha Bora, Parikshit Sarma, Bajid Ahmed, Bhaskar Dutta, Pritam Bhuyan, G. Narzary, and Sushmita Goswami.

CID sources revealed that many of the NRIs work in prominent firms or run businesses in Singapore and have informed authorities that their presence there is currently required as Singapore police are also probing the matter as an unnatural death. This, they said, has delayed their travel to India.

Meanwhile, the Assam Association of Singapore clarified that the yacht party was a private gathering and not an official event of the association. Garg, 52, had gone swimming during the party when he was later found dead, floating face down in the sea. The singer had been invited to perform at the three-day Northeast India Festival, scheduled to begin on September 20, which was subsequently cancelled following his death.