Congress Leader Criticizes Singapore Court Ruling on Zubeen Garg's Death
Concerns Raised Over Court Verdict
Guwahati, March 26: Gaurav Gogoi, the president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), voiced his disappointment regarding the recent ruling by a court in Singapore concerning the death of the beloved singer Zubeen Garg.
The coroner's inquiry in Singapore concluded that Garg's demise was due to accidental drowning.
During a press conference, Gogoi mentioned that following September 19, a special legal agreement was established between the Indian and Singaporean governments to investigate the circumstances surrounding Garg's death. This agreement aimed to facilitate cooperation and information sharing during the inquiry.
He noted that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had traveled to Singapore.
“We anticipated discussions with the Singapore Police and the Home Ministry, expecting an exchange of vital information. The Chief Minister had previously stated in the Assembly that Zubeen Garg was murdered. However, while proceedings were ongoing in Singapore, the investigation concluded it was a natural death, leading to today’s court verdict,” Gogoi explained.
He expressed that the verdict has left many questions unanswered for the people of Assam, further intensifying their doubts.
“Despite the discussions between the two governments and the Assam SIT's visit to Singapore, the Singapore government’s findings contradict the statements made in the Assembly. This verdict seems to favor the main suspects in the case. Even after thorough investigations at the hotel where the incident occurred, the outcome is hard for us to accept,” he stated.
Gogoi accused the main suspects, Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddhartha Sharma, of benefiting from the Singapore court's decision, which has provided them with legal relief.
“Himanta Biswa Sarma had previously claimed that if justice was not served to Zubeen Garg before the Assembly elections, the people of Assam should not support the BJP. Does he still stand by that statement? The public is struggling to trust the investigation into Garg's death. They are observing the situation closely. Instead of delivering justice, the BJP has resorted to tarnishing Zubeen Garg's reputation. The Chief Minister seems reluctant to address this issue. We, like many others, did not expect such a verdict in Zubeen’s case, and it is difficult for us to comprehend,” concluded the State Congress president.