The court granted seven days’ police custody to DSP Garg while the SIT continues its investigation under the India–Singapore Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.
BY PC Bureau
October 8: In a sensational twist to the mysterious death of iconic Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, the Assam government has suspended Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sandipan Garg and placed him under arrest, marking a watershed moment in one of the state’s most closely watched investigations.
According to official sources, DSP Sandipan Garg, who was serving as In-Charge Co-District Superintendent of Police (Boko–Chaygaon, Kamrup District), was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Wednesday morning after a marathon interrogation session at the CID headquarters in Guwahati.
The suspension order came hours after the officer’s arrest — a move that followed mounting public outrage and intense media scrutiny since Zubeen’s untimely death in Singapore under still-unclear circumstances.
CID sources confirmed that Garg was arrested at 10:56 AM in connection with CID Police Station Case No. 18/2025, booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — including Section 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), Section 106(1) (causing death by negligence), and Section 103 (punishment for murder).
Officials said “substantial evidence” had been gathered linking the officer to the ongoing probe, though the CID has so far withheld the exact nature of his alleged involvement.
Following the arrest, DSP Garg was produced before a Guwahati court where the SIT sought a 14-day police remand for further questioning.
The court, however, granted seven days of custody, directing the officer to be produced again on October 15, 2025. Sources said once his remand period ends, Garg is likely to be sent to judicial custody pending further investigation.
During his suspension, Garg’s headquarters will remain the Assam Police Headquarters, Ulubari, subject to state government review.
Link to Zubeen Garg’s Death
The case took a dramatic turn when investigators confirmed that DSP Garg was present on the yacht in Singapore at the time of Zubeen Garg’s death — a revelation that has fueled speculation of foul play and shaken public trust in the system.
The 52-year-old singer, revered as Assam’s cultural heartbeat, was found dead under suspicious circumstances during what was initially described as a private gathering aboard a yacht. His death prompted the Assam government to set up a Special Investigation Team under the CID to probe possible criminal negligence or conspiracy.
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Special DGP (CID) Munna Prasad Gupta, addressing the press, said:
“We have arrested DSP Sandipan Garg and produced him before the court. Summons have been issued to Assamese nationals in Singapore, including Rupkamal Kalita, who recorded his statement on Tuesday. As key witnesses are abroad, we have activated the India–Singapore Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty to secure evidence and testimonies.”
An International Trail
The case now straddles two countries. Investigators are coordinating with Singaporean authorities to obtain CCTV footage, digital records, and forensic evidence from the yacht where Zubeen reportedly collapsed.
Witnesses, including expatriate Assamese nationals, are being questioned under the legal assistance treaty.
Meanwhile, the singer’s family and fans continue to demand transparency. Candlelight vigils have been held across Assam — from Tezpur to Tinsukia — as social media explodes with theories about the singer’s final hours.
Zubeen Garg’s death — and now the arrest of a high-ranking police officer — has ignited a political storm in Assam.
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Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assured that “no one will be spared if found guilty,” even as opposition parties demanded that the probe be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The arrest of DSP Garg, a senior officer previously considered close to influential circles, has deepened public suspicion about institutional complicity or cover-ups.
As one senior CID officer put it off record:
“This arrest is just the beginning. The trail is longer than it looks.”
The next court appearance on October 15 is expected to be pivotal — possibly revealing more about the evidence linking Garg to the case and whether others could soon face arrest.
The CID has appealed to the public for patience and cautioned against spreading unverified rumours, promising “regular official briefings as the case progresses.”
Security has been tightened across Kamrup and Guwahati to manage public gatherings, with police on high alert amid growing outrage.
For now, the mystery surrounding Zubeen Garg’s death — and the shocking involvement of a senior police officer — continues to haunt Assam, a state still reeling from the loss of one of its most beloved voices.
