GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 30th Sept: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the Centre has formally invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Singapore in connection with the death of singer Zubeen Garg, who drowned in the sea on September 19.
Sarma said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has written to the High Commission of India in Singapore to forward the original MLAT request to the Attorney General of Singapore, seeking legal assistance in the case registered by Assam Police. “The Ministry of Home Affairs has now formally invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in connection with the FIR lodged regarding the unfortunate demise of our beloved Zubeen,” Sarma posted on X.
The MHA has also sought that any response or execution report from Singaporean authorities be sent back for onward transmission to the investigating agency.
A 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Special DGP M.P. Gupta, is probing Garg’s death. Two Assam Police officers are already in Singapore to coordinate with local authorities. Notices have been issued to several people who attended the North East India Festival (NEIF), including chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma, and members of the Singapore Assam Association.
Sarma earlier said that invoking MLAT would ensure Singapore’s full cooperation, help access case details, and assist in securing justice, including bringing back the accused if needed. A lookout notice via Interpol has been issued against Mahanta and Sharma, who have been asked to appear before the CID on October 6.
Zubeen Garg, who was scheduled to perform at the NEIF on September 20, drowned during a yacht trip with members of the Assamese community. The festival was cancelled following his death. Over 60 FIRs, including one by his family, have been filed in the case.
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