Assam CM Responds to Singapore Court's Ruling on Zubeen Garg's Death
Chief Minister's Reaction to Court Findings
Guwahati, March 25: Following the Singapore court's decision that the death of renowned Assamese artist Zubeen Garg was due to accidental drowning, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed that the court's conclusions align with the findings of the Assam government's investigation, emphasizing that there is no discrepancy between the two.
The coroner's court in Singapore determined that Garg's demise was a result of an unfortunate and tragic accidental drowning, corroborating the Police Coast Guard's assessment that no foul play was involved.
State Coroner Adam Nakhoda delivered the verdict.
While campaigning in Nagaon, Sarma remarked that the conclusions reached in Singapore largely correspond with the observations outlined in Assam's chargesheet.
“There is no divergence between the Singapore ruling and our chargesheet. The Assam government had indicated that Zubeen had consumed alcohol, which the Singapore court has also verified, confirming he had been drinking since the previous night,” he stated.
Sarma highlighted that the Singapore court's findings regarding the amount of alcohol consumed were consistent with the state's investigation.
“The court noted approximately 380 ml of alcohol, which aligns with our records. In that regard, their findings bolster our case,” Sarma added.
Nonetheless, the Chief Minister pointed out that the Assam Police's investigation delves deeper into the circumstances surrounding the alcohol consumption.
“Our stance is that he was coerced into drinking. We suspect this was not entirely voluntary but part of a broader conspiracy,” he asserted.
Sarma also addressed criticisms from opposition figures, including Akhil Gogoi and Dulu Ahmed, who questioned why Assam Police did not travel to Singapore for the investigation.
“Some have suggested that Assam Police should have gone to Singapore. But what would that have accomplished? The critical elements of the case, including financial trails and related evidence, are tied to Assam,” he explained.
He further claimed that the alleged conspiracy originated within the state.
“We have reasons to believe that the conspiracy was orchestrated here. The bank accounts and other evidence are located in Assam, making it logical to conduct the investigation from this location,” he stated.
Reiterating claims made in the chargesheet, Sarma said, “We have indicated that Amritprava was involved in a conspiracy and deliberately made Zubeen consume alcohol. Our investigation has been conducted independently, free from political influence.”
He added that the Singapore ruling would clarify the basis of the Assam government's investigation.
“Today's judgment demonstrates that we were on the right path. People will now recognize that our actions were grounded in facts rather than political agendas,” Sarma concluded.
These comments come as the Singapore court has dismissed foul play in its jurisdiction, while ongoing legal proceedings in Assam continue to explore other facets of the case.