3 more from S’pore appear before SIT in Zubeen case

Guwahati: Three more individuals from Assam, currently residing in Singapore, appeared before the Assam Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday in connection with the death of singer Zubeen Garg. The individuals, Jiolangsat Narzary, Parikshit Sharma, and Siddhartha Bora, were present on the yacht at the time of the singer’s death, which allegedly occurred while swimming in Singapore on Sept 19.

Special DGP MP Gupta, who is heading the SIT, told the media that Jiolangsat Narzary, Parikshit Sharma and Siddhartha Bora arrived at the CID headquarters on Monday. “They are being interrogated and statements recorded,” he added.

Earlier, Rupkamal Kalita had arrived from Singapore and appeared before the SIT on Oct 7. He was later allowed to go after questioning.

The SIT chief said within the next two days, a few more Assamese people living in Singapore are expected to come and record their statements before the SIT. “Already, notices have been issued to them to appear before the SIT,” he added.

The officer said the investigation is going in the right direction. “We will complete the probe within the stipulated time as per law and submit the report before the court. We have been putting in efforts to come to a logical conclusion very soon,” he added.

The special DGP further said the request seeking legal assistance from Singapore under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty was sent to them through the Union home ministry on Sept 30 and reached the office of their attorney general.

“We are waiting for permission from Singapore. We will go to Singapore once we get the permission. We are hopeful to get a positive response soon,” he added.

He further said Singapore Police are also carrying an investigation there regarding a case over Zubeen’s death and they have sought some information from the Assam Police. “We have provided the information to them. We will be able to know their findings once they complete their probe. We have also sought assistance,” he added.

Talking about the police remand of the arrested accused, the special DGP said, “Fourteen day custody with police is the maximum time period as per law. Court granted a few of the arrested accused 14-day remand. They will be produced before the court once their remand ends and the court will pass further orders,” he added.

SIT arrested organiser of North East India Festival in Singapore Shyamkanu Mahanta and Zubeen’s manager, Siddharth Sharma, on Oct 1. Zubeen’s drummer Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and co-singer Amritprabha Mahanta were arested the next day. All of them were sent to SIT custody for 14 days by a court here. The SIT arrested Zubeen’s cousin brother Sandipon Garg, who is an Assam Police Service officer, on Oct 8. Later, police arrested the both the PSOs of the singer, who were attached with Zubeen for his security for about a decade, after financial transaction of over Rs 1 crore was found in their bank accounts.

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said investigators have found a “definite angle” after they received the viscera report. He added that Singapore Police had sought some “vital information” from Zubeen’s family in connection with the death of the singer in the island nation, and the Assam govt forwarded the required inputs to the authorities there.