Nava Thakuria
As Assam readies for the forthcoming legislative assembly election, scheduled for 9 April 2026, the family and sympathizers of cultural icon Zubeen Garg have urged the political parties not to use his name in electoral politics. Many of the opposition leaders tried to gain political advantage with the sudden demise of Zubeen in Singapore on 19 September 2025 and subsequent probe to determine how the heartthrob of millions had to die in the island nation, while going for a yacht outing in sea waters. While a Singapore court recently ruled out any foul play in Zubeen's accidental death, the authorities in Assam of northeast India had framed charges against seven individuals in 'murdering' the singer following a well-planned conspiracy, for which the trial has already begun. Responding to the huge public demands, the government facilitated a fast-track court to run the trial on a daily basis. Set up by the Gauhati High Court recently, the fast-track sessions court in Kamrup metropolitan district started trial proceedings from 30 March.
The coroner's court in Singapore on 25 March, while ruling that the 53-year old singer died due to accidental drowning, created a fresh political storm over the outcome. Delivering the final findings, State Coroner Adam Nakhoda observed that there was no reason to disagree with the Police Coast Guard's conclusion after examining all evidence. According to the city-state's mainstream daily The Straits Times, a death certificate was already issued by Singapore General Hospital listing the cause of his death as drowning. Testimony revealed that despite efforts by friends to persuade the already intoxicated singer, Zubeen went for a second swim without a life jacket and appeared visibly exhausted, stated the newspaper report, adding Zubeen refused to wear the life vest before entering the water.
The Singapore court concluded that he likely lost consciousness in the water, leading to drowning. The coroner also noted that there was no evidence of foul play, no delay in rescue efforts, and no indication that anyone held Zubeen underwater. The incident occurred during a yacht trip that departed from Marina at Keppel Bay, where the witnesses, including the vessel's captain, testified that the singer appeared unsteady even before boarding, and required assistance moving around. The captain's assistant told the court in January that no one had forced him to consume alcohol or enter the water. Zubeen likely lost consciousness, and his face became submerged in the water. The swimmers in the sea assisted him to the best of their abilities and there was no evidence to suggest his face had been deliberately held underwater, asserted the coroner.
Meanwhile, the opposition parties questioned the claim of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as he stated in the assembly during November that Zubeen was murdered under a planned conspiracy. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee chief Gaurav Gogoi drew the contradiction between the Singapore court's final findings and Assam government's accusation of murdering Zubeen. Gogoi, the deputy opposition leader in Lok Sabha and currently a Congress nominee for assembly polls, termed the Singapore verdict as a gift to those accused individuals, who are in judicial custody.
Other opposition leaders also demanded clarity and accountability from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Dispur. They questioned the integrity of investigations carried by a special team of Assam police personnel over Zubeen's death, where murder charges were slapped against Shyamkanu Mahanta (chief organizer of 4th North East India Festival in Singapore, where Zubeen was supposed to perform on 20 September), the singers' manager Siddharth Sharma, two co-artistes Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprabha Mahanta. Three others arrested and remained behind the bars include Zubeen's cousin brother (and a suspended police officer) Sandipan Garg along with two security officers Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya.
Responding to the criticism, Sarma said the Singapore conclusion only strengthened the case registered in Assam. Highlighting that Assam investigation was independent of Singapore's, Sarma pointed out that both the investigations revealed that Zubeen consumed alcohol crossing the permissible limit (up to 333 milligrams per 100 millilitre of blood suggesting severe intoxication). The additional aspect in the Assam probe was that Zubeen was made to consume alcohol by Amritprabha on the previous night as part of the conspiracy. Sarma, a BJP nominee for the election, argued that the Singapore ruling will make the case in Assam more effective, which is now being heard in the local court.
Born as Jiban Borthakur in Tura of Meghalaya in 1972, Zubeen grew up in different parts of Assam as his father Mohini Mohan Borthakur served as a magistrate. Adopted his name as a mark of respect to the legendary orchestral conductor and music director Zubin Mehta, Zubeen made his musical debut with Anamika in the early Nineties and soon emerged as a mesmerizing musical performer on stages with his songs developed in folk-based content and rhythms. The prince of melody got instant national fame with his resounding voice in the Ya Ali song of Gangster. A versatile genius, Zubeen sang thousands of songs in multiple languages and produced-acted in a few Assamese movies. After Dr Bhupen Hazarika, the ultimate artistic identity of the Assamese community, Zubeen became synonymous with the cultural stages of spring festival Rongali/Bohag Bihu across the Brahmaputra valley of Assam. As his untimely demise continues to annoy the young people, which is reflected on social media space, the upcoming Bihu festival (beginning on 14 April next) will hunt the Asomiyas again, when the highly popular Bihu functions will be devoid of Zubeen and his melody.
