 "Now, Zubeen Garg's cousin, an Assam cop arrested: Who are the 5 nabbed in singer's death case?")
The probe into the mysterious death of Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg has intensified, with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Assam Police arresting a senior police officer and one of Garg’s cousins in connection with the case.
The latest, and fifth, arrest is that of Sandipan Garg, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Zubeen’s cousin, who was taken into custody weeks after the singer’s sudden death, reportedly by drowning, in Singapore last month.
As the inquiry deepens, several of Garg’s close aides and event organisers, people once considered part of his inner circle, have come under the scanner.
Here’s a closer look at who the five arrested individuals are and what’s known so far about the unfolding case.
Five people arrested in Zubeen Garg’s death case
Sandipan Garg
Sandipan Garg, an Assam Police Service officer, is currently serving as the Deputy Superintendent (Law and Order) in Kamrup district. He was taken into seven-day police custody by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Kamrup (Metropolitan) after being questioned multiple times over the past few days.
According to reports, Sandipan, the son of Zubeen’s paternal uncle, was present with him on the yacht when the tragic incident occurred.
A senior officer told The Hindu, “Our team has taken him to a court here. We will seek police remand.”
Sandipan Garg, cousin of late Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, who had accompanied Zubeen to Singapore, has been arrested in connection with the singer's death.
— Vani Mehrotra (@vani_mehrotra) October 8, 2025
Sandipan Garg serves as Superintendent of Police (In-Charge) with the Assam Police Service (APS).
He was arrested by the… https://t.co/EzIHJHV47n pic.twitter.com/js2JIHwZPL
Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprabha Mahanta
The SIT also arrested Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, a fellow musician and Zubeen’s bandmate, along with Amritprabha Mahanta, a co-singer. Both were reportedly at the location where the singer collapsed.
According to officials, the two were called in for questioning last week but were taken into custody later in the day. Both Goswami and Mahanta had travelled with Zubeen to Singapore for the North East India Festival, where he was scheduled to perform.
Siddharth Sharma and Shyamkanu Mahanta
Two other key arrests include Siddharth Sharma, Zubeen’s manager, and Shyamkanu Mahanta, the chief organiser of the North East India Festival.
Mahanta was detained upon his arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi from Singapore, while Sharma was arrested from his apartment in Gurugram. The duo was later brought to Guwahati for further investigation.
Justice #3: Absconding Accused Shyamkanu Mahanta, Siddharth Sharma dragged by Assam CID.
— aboyob bhuyan (@aboyobbhuyan) October 1, 2025
Since courts are closed, takes them to CJM’s residence, gets a rare 14-days CID Custody.
They are handcuffed, pulled and dragged out, now presented in front of the CID.… pic.twitter.com/1WF4glKyIt
Notably, Shyamkanu Mahanta comes from a well-known family in Assam. He is the younger brother of former DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, who currently serves as the Chief Information Commissioner of Assam, and Nani Gopal Mahanta, former Education Advisor to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and now Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University.
The Assam Police confirmed that both Mahanta and Sharma have been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence.
The SIT has also been interrogating Rupkamal Kalita, who is part of the Assam Association Singapore, which had reportedly organised the yacht outing. Kalita has reported in Guwahati in response to a summons issued by the SIT to him, along with seven other members of the Singapore association.
How did Zubeen Garg die?
Confusion still surrounds the sudden death of the Assamese singer, who passed away in Singapore on September 19. The 52-year-old artiste was scheduled to perform the next day at the North-East Festival, a grand event celebrating the region’s cultural heritage.
Initial reports suggested that Zubeen was injured while scuba diving and later died at a hospital.
A representative of the North East India Festival in Singapore told the media, “It is with deep sadness that we share the news of Zubeen Garg’s passing. While scuba diving, he experienced breathing difficulties and was immediately given CPR before being rushed to Singapore General Hospital. Despite efforts to save him, he was declared deceased in the ICU around 2:30 pm IST.”
However, newer accounts have painted a slightly different picture. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that Zubeen died while swimming in the sea, not during scuba diving, and without a life jacket.
#Watch | Viral video shows Zubeen Garg jumping off the yacht for a swim in Singapore.#ZubeenGarg #ZubeenGargDeath #singapore pic.twitter.com/cxGwChMsGz
— GPlus (@guwahatiplus) September 19, 2025
Speaking to PTI, Sarma referred to a video that showed Zubeen jumping into the sea from a yacht wearing a life jacket, before climbing back. “
According to reports, he jumped into the sea a second time, but this time without wearing a life jacket, because he said he felt uncomfortable swimming with it on,” the chief minister said.
Moments later, people on the yacht reportedly saw Zubeen floating unresponsive in the water. He was rushed to Singapore General Hospital, but doctors could not revive him. He was pronounced dead around 2:30 pm.
Following the incident, the chief minister directed Director General of Police Harmeet Singh to transfer multiple FIRs filed across Assam regarding the singer’s death to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The CID has been tasked with registering a consolidated case for a thorough probe.
As investigations continue, the exact circumstances surrounding the beloved singer’s final moments remain unclear.
With input from agencies
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