The Assam Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the death of singer Zubeen Garg has arrested his bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and co-singer Amritprava Mahanta, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to four.
Both Goswami and Mahanta were present with Garg during the yacht party held as part of the North East India Festival on September 19. The 52-year-old singer went for a swim and was later found floating face down in the water.
Sources within the SIT revealed that Goswami was captured on video swimming close to Garg, while Mahanta recorded the incident on her cellphone. Both were questioned extensively over six days before being taken into custody.
A chief judicial magistrate’s court on Friday remanded Goswami and Mahanta to a 14-day custody under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Earlier arrests include Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma and North East India Festival manager Shyamkanu Mahanta, who were detained on Wednesday. They are expected to be questioned alongside Goswami and Mahanta.
On Thursday, Sharma and Shyamkanu Mahanta were charged with murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence in relation to Garg’s death.
Special Director General of Police Munna Gupta, heading the SIT, stated, “The investigation is ongoing, and charges have been added under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.”
Zubeen Garg’s wife, Garima Garg, expressed her faith in the justice system, stating that the investigation will uncover the truth and the guilty will be punished.
The SIT is also awaiting approval to collect evidence from Singapore, where some crucial information is believed to be held.
