Explained | The Zubeen Garg Case and the Family’s Appeal to the Prime Minister

Ahead of celebrations in connection with 77th Republic Day events in India, Garima Saikia Garg, who is wed to Assam's most celebrated singer, has formally moved an application to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking intervention in relation to death in Singapore of her husband, Assam's most celebrated singer.

In a detailed memorandum presented on Saturday, Garima Saikia Garg along with Zubeen Garg’s sister, Palme Borthakur, and uncle Manoj Kumar Borthakur, requested that a Special Court be convened in Assam, an expedited trial of the trial be conducted, bail not be granted to the offenders, and sustained diplomatic-legal dialogue be initiated with Singapore.

Taking to Facebook, Garima Saikia Garg wrote in Assamese that the family has submitted the memorandum with folded hands, driven by a singular resolve:

“প্ৰতিটো দিন ৰাতি এতিয়া মাথোঁ এটাই আমাৰ লক্ষ্য — জুবিন গাৰ্গে সম্পূৰ্ণ সত্য, শুদ্ধ আৰু উচিত ন্যায় পাবই লাগিব। দোষীয়ে কঠোৰতম শাস্তি পাবই লাগিব।”
(“Day and night, we have only one goal — Zubeen Garg must receive complete, truthful and rightful justice. The guilty must receive the strictest punishment.”)

‘Not Just a Family Loss, But a Public Wound’

As provided in the memorandum to the Prime Minister by the family—which described Garg as “not only a member of our family, but a cultural voice of Assam and of India’s North-East!”—his sudden demise in Singapore on September 19 in the year 2025 had “left behind millions of people seeking clarity and lawful action.”

It was also observed by the family that the authorities had commenced proceedings suo motu in the matter in Singapore. Further, the Indian High Commission had coordinated the proceedings for the post-mortem. Thereafter, an FIR had been registered by the CID Assam, resulting in the formulation of a Special Investigation Team.

Under the memorandum, Assam Police, whose investigation had stretched to almost three months, filed a charge sheet that ran over 2,500 pages, charging under the sections dealing with murder.

Questions That Refuse to Settle

The family also informed the Prime Minister that a detailed and reasoned statement was submitted before the Coroner’s Court in Singapore, seeking clarity on the sequence of events leading to Zubeen Garg’s death. “These questions,” the memorandum states, “are lawful and they are the human rights of a family whose loved one died under circumstances that remain contested.” 

Emphasising that the family has remained in continuous engagement with authorities in both India and Singapore, the memorandum asserts: “There has been no inaction, hesitation, or dilution in our pursuit of truth. Every lawful avenue has been explored with dignity and responsibility.”

Five Key Demands

The family has placed five specific requests before the Prime Minister, including:

• Constitution of a Special Court in India to ensure focused adjudication and public confidence
• Appointment of additional senior prosecutors of national standing, if required 
• Fast-tracking of the trial through judicial and administrative measures
• A firm request that no bail be granted to the accused until justice is fully delivered
• Active diplomatic and legal engagement with Singapore, including monitoring Coroner’s Court proceedings and ensuring full access to evidence and testimonies

‘Citizens of a Republic Founded on Justice’

Concluding the memorandum, the family wrote with restrained emotion:

“We simply desire that every action taken, every word spoken, every decision made, and every opportunity foregone in those last hours of Zubeen’s life undergo an analysis of complete transparency.”

Describing themselves as “a family in grief, but also citizens of a Republic founded on justice,” they put their trust in the office of the Prime Minister to pursue this with “the seriousness, urgency, and moral weight that this situation deserves.”

Also Read: Why Two Accused Stepped Back as Court Reserved Order in Zubeen Garg Case?