The shocking demise of Zubeen Garg has left the country and the Assam music industry in shock and grief. Speaking with CNN-News18, his wife, Garima Garg, offered some light on the circumstances surrounding his death and hinted at his manager`s involvement.
The renowned singer was in Singapore to commemorate the 60th anniversary of India-Singapore diplomatic relations when he sadly drowned while swimming. All events were cancelled due to the untimely demise of the musician, an idol to millions in Assam and India, and lakhs of his followers attended his final rites.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said they had issued a copy of the autopsy report, which stated that he died while swimming in waters off Singapore Island. The Singapore authorities have ruled out foul play in Zubeen`s death.
Garima sheds light on Zubeen`s death
Despite his obvious exhaustion from previous excursions, Garima Garg said that he was suddenly taken for a picnic and swimming. “Why wasn`t he taken care of when his manager was there? We`ve lost our cultural icon,” she explained.
Garg`s manager, Siddhartha Sharma, and festival chief organiser, Shyamkanu Mahanta, were detained in Delhi on Wednesday in connection with the singer`s death. They were charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence.
Garima stated that she last chatted with the artist on the night of September 18, one day before his death. She claimed he made no mention of any picnic plans, implying that Zubeen was unaware of them.
“He typically sleeps throughout the day; perhaps he was taken forcibly. He was also on medication, and I don`t even know if he was given his medications,” she said. Garima further stated that when she asked Siddharth about what happened, he told her that Zubeen experienced his first seizure while in the pool.
“He had no heart issues and recovered quickly after his seizure. “I was really shocked,” she claimed, adding that his family`s requests for images and videos were turned down.
“There could be many things. This was not a scuba diving-related death. The investigation is ongoing, and we all want to know what happened,” she stated. “I trust the legal system. The Assam chief minister is taking it seriously. I am confident we will receive justice very soon.”
Speaking about the singer`s legacy, Garima stated that Zubeen had always loved people and his hometown, which is why lakhs of people came to pay their final respects. “He always told me – I am not for a single family, I am here for the people, for my fans. “This is the love people are giving him back – their prayers, their devotion,” she said.
Details on Zubeen Garg`s death probe
Meanwhile, during the raid on Shyamkanu`s residence on Thursday and Friday, a special team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) recovered bundles of “incriminating” documents and things, according to news agency PTI.
The investigation team discovered and collected several PAN cards in the name of one firm, approximately 30 stamp seals from various companies and government officials, and documentation pertaining to several benami properties.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Assam Police is currently investigating Garg`s death after over 60 FIRs were filed across the state against Mahanta, the main organiser of the Northeast India Festival in Singapore, where the singer had gone to perform, and nearly ten others, including the icon`s manager Siddharth Sharma.
Zubeen`s last rites were performed on September 23 in Assam`s Kamarkuchi hamlet in front of hundreds of admirers, family members, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, and other political officials. Zubeen received a gun salute at the crematorium.
