If Singapore Finds No Foul Play in Zubeen’s Case, What Is Assam CID’s SIT Chasing?

The death of singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore has now become a complex legal and political battleground, with sharply conflicting narratives emerging from two jurisdictions.

While Singapore police force have repeatedly ruled out foul play and initiated a formal coroner-led inquiry, the Assam government’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed a murder charge sheet—drawing fierce criticism from legal experts and political leaders alike.

Singapore Police Reiterate: No Foul Play Suspected

In its latest statement on Thursday evening, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) categorically stated that it does not suspect foul play in Zubeen Garg’s death, despite what it described as “online speculation” and media reports from India claiming murder charges.

“Based on our investigations so far, the SPF does not suspect foul play in the death of Mr Garg,” the statement said.

The SPF confirmed that the case is being investigated under the Singapore Coroners Act 2010, and that its findings will be placed before the State Coroner, who is scheduled to conduct a Coroner’s Inquiry (CI) in January and February 2026.

“A CI is a fact-finding process led by the Coroner to establish the cause and circumstances of death. Its findings will be made public upon conclusion,” the SPF said.

Urging restraint, the Singapore police warned against misinformation:

“We urge the public not to speculate and spread unverified information.”

This position is consistent with an earlier SPF statement issued on October 17, which had also dismissed foul play based on preliminary investigations and confirmed that an autopsy report and preliminary findings were shared with the High Commission of India on October 1, 2025, at New Delhi’s request.

Assam SIT’s Murder Theory Under Fire

In stark contrast, the Assam CID’s SIT has charged four individuals with murder—an action that Sibsagar MLA Akhil Gogoi earlier had described as legally hollow and politically motivated.

“A charge sheet submitted by the police cannot ensure justice for Zubeen Garg,” Gogoi said, calling it his “final statement” on the matter.

He went further:

“This charge sheet is a myth. It has been prepared not to secure conviction, but to politically manage the case till the 2026 Assembly elections.”

According to Gogoi, the accused are allegedly being kept in custody for “electoral mileage,” only to be released on bail later due to lack of evidence.

‘Prepared Sitting in Guwahati’

Gogoi alleged grave procedural lapses, claiming the SIT never visited the crime scene in Singapore, nor conducted any reconstruction of events.

“Neither the Chief Investigating Officer nor the Investigating Officers visited the place of occurrence with the accused. No reconstruction was done. No proper videography or photography was conducted,” he said.

Instead, he alleged:

“The charge sheet was prepared while sitting in Guwahati.”

BNSS, Jurisdiction and a Legal Dead End

A major fault line lies in the legal route adopted by the Assam government. Gogoi pointed out that while the government sought permission under Section 208 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), it failed to invoke Section 112, a crucial provision enabling courts to issue Letters of Request to foreign authorities.

“Section 112 clearly empowers Indian courts to legally obtain admissible evidence from foreign jurisdictions. This was never invoked,” Gogoi said.

Instead, the government allegedly relied on Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs).

“Evidence collected solely through MLATs is inadmissible in court unless routed through a Letter of Request,” he said, citing judicial observations from the J. Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case.

Singapore’s Drowning Conclusion vs Assam’s Murder Charge

The contradiction at the heart of the case remains unresolved. Singapore authorities concluded that Zubeen Garg died due to drowning, with no evidence of foul play—a finding publicly acknowledged earlier by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma himself.

“Singapore clearly stated there was no foul play,” Gogoi reminded.

The prosecution must now reconcile this medical conclusion with a murder charge under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The Yacht Angle: Missing Witnesses, Missing Evidence

Gogoi highlighted glaring omissions in the charge sheet, particularly surrounding the alleged yacht incident:

• No statement from the yacht captain

• No seizure of consent forms for swimming

• No clarity on whether authorities knew Garg was an epilepsy patient

• No testimonies from doctors, rescue personnel, or Singapore police

• No statement from the doctor who conducted the first post-mortem

“How can a charge sheet be complete without these witnesses?” Gogoi asked.

He added:

“If it is proven that an epilepsy patient was allowed to swim without a life jacket, the captain could face serious criminal liability.”

Legal Experts: ‘The Real Test Has Just Begun’

Senior advocate Ananda Bhuyan cautioned against premature conclusions.

“Nothing in a charge sheet can be treated as gospel truth,” he said.

Bhuyan explained that the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court is merely a committal court, and that the real scrutiny will occur during framing of charges in the sessions court.

“Murder charges can be diluted if intent cannot be established,” he said.

On jurisdiction, Bhuyan was blunt:

“The Singapore post-mortem report is substantive evidence. The prosecution must convincingly explain how a death declared accidental abroad becomes murder at home.”

As things stand, Zubeen Garg’s death sits at the crossroads of international law, domestic politics, and procedural integrity. With Singapore’s Coroner’s Inquiry pending and the Indian sessions court yet to frame charges, the case is far from settled.

What remains certain is this:
Justice will not be determined by the thickness of a charge sheet or the gravity of political statements—but by whether evidence can withstand cross-examination, reconcile contradictory findings, and answer the hardest question of all: what truly happened to Zubeen Garg?

Also Read: Zubeen Garg Chargesheet: How Much Truth Lies in 13 Pages Amid 12,000 Documents?