Zubeen’s secy, fest organiser among 4 charged for murder

The special investigation team (SIT) of Assam Police, probing the death of the state’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg, on Friday charged four accused, including the singer’s secretary Siddhartha Sharma and festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, with murder in the charge sheet filed in a Guwahati court.

- Utpal Parashar

The nearly 2,500-page charge-sheet was filed 84 days after Garg died while swimming in the sea on September 19. He had gone to attend the North East India Festival (NEIF) in Singapore.

Since the singer's death, over 60 first information reports, including one by his family, have been filed in Assam and seven have been arrested.

Special DGP (CID) MP Gupta, who is also the head of the nine-member SIT, said that of the seven accused, four have been charged with murder and other charges. The four include Zubeen’s manager, Siddharth Sharma, event organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and the 52-year-old musician's bandmates, Shekharjyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta. “Besides murder, accused Siddharth Sharma, Shyamkanu Mahanta, Shekharjyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta have been charged with criminal conspiracy and common knowledge/ intention/cooperation,” said Gupta.