Zubeen Garg was Poisoned: Bandmate Shekhar alleges manager and festival organiser amid ongoing probe

Zubeen Garg

In a shocking turn of events in the probe into the death of Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg, his longtime bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami has made sensational allegations that the late singer might have been poisoned, with his death staged as an accident by festival organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta and his manager Siddharth Sharma.

Allegations of a Conspiracy

According to witness testimony recorded under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Shekhar Jyoti Goswami told investigators that Siddharth Sharma’s behaviour in the hours before Zubeen Garg’s death in Singapore was deeply suspicious.

Shekhar Jyoti Goswami claimed that Siddharth Sharma, who is now an accused in the FIR, faces serious non-bailable charges — including criminal conspiracy, murder, and culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

“He displayed strange behaviour throughout the trip,” Shekhar Jyoti Goswami said in his statement, adding that Siddharth Sharma took control of the yacht from its sailor mid-sea, making it wobble dangerously. “He even told Assam Association (Singapore) member and NRI Tanmoy Phukan not to arrange any drinks, saying he would handle it himself.”

Disturbing Details from the Yacht Trip

Recalling the final moments, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami alleged that during the chaos when Zubeen Garg was gasping for breath, Siddharth Sharma was heard shouting, “Jabo de, jabo de” (“let him go, let him go”).

Shekhar Jyoti Goswami added that the singer, a trained swimmer who had even coached both him and Siddharth Sharma, could not have drowned accidentally. “He was strong in the water. It didn’t make sense,” Goswami reportedly told the police.

He further alleged that both Siddharth Sharma and Shyamkanu Mahanta may have poisoned Zubeen Garg and deliberately chosen Singapore as the venue to conceal their actions. Goswami also claimed that Siddharth Sharma warned him not to share any videos from the yacht trip.

Denials and Investigation

Both Siddharth Sharma and Shyamkanu Mahanta have denied the allegations during interrogation. Goswami, however, insisted that when Zubeen Garg was seen frothing from the mouth and nose, Siddharth Sharma dismissed it as acid reflux and stopped others from panicking. “Instead of getting medical help, his actions only hastened Zubeen’s demise,” Goswami alleged.

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Investigators now say that early evidence, including financial records, witness statements, and transaction data, suggests Sharma’s potential involvement. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (I-T) Department are expected to join the probe into possible organised financial crimes and benami property holdings linked to Shyamkanu Mahanta.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has also uncovered older financial irregularities — some over two decades old — allegedly linked to Shyamkanu Mahanta’s tenure at a non-banking financial company. Officials from the ED and I-T Department have already visited the CID headquarters to examine the documents.

As the investigation deepens, fans and fellow artists continue to demand justice for Zubeen Garg, whose sudden death has shaken the cultural heart of Assam.

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FAQsQ1. Who has accused Zubeen Garg’s manager and organiser of poisoning him?
Zubeen Garg’s bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami made the allegations against manager Siddharth Sharma and organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta.

Q2. Have the accused responded to the allegations?
Yes, both Siddharth Sharma and Shyamkanu Mahanta have denied all allegations during interrogation.

Q3. Which agencies are currently investigating the case?
The case is being probed by the Assam Police CID, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax Department (I-T) expected to join the investigation.