Lagatar24 Desk
Guwahati: A Singapore-based Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Rup Kamal Kalita, who was present on the yacht during Assamese singer Zubeen Garg’s death, has joined the ongoing investigation after missing the initial summon deadline. Kalita appeared at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Guwahati on Tuesday for questioning.
NRI Among Yacht Guests, Probe Widens
Kalita, originally from Assam, is one of eight Singapore-based NRIs summoned by Assam CID through the Indian High Commission to appear by October 6. Later, three more NRIs were added to the list. According to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Kalita is the only one so far to comply with the summons.
Zubeen Garg, 52, died last month while attending a yacht party in Singapore. He was found floating face down in the sea after going for a swim. The singer had travelled to Singapore to perform at the North East India Festival, scheduled to begin on September 20. The festival was cancelled after his death.
Arrests, Poisoning Allegations Add Twist
Weeks after the incident, the singer’s manager, Siddhartha Sharma, and North East India Festival chief organiser, Shyamkanu Mahanta, were arrested on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence. Mahanta was arrested upon arrival at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, while Sharma was detained in Gurugram.
In a dramatic turn, Zubeen Garg’s bandmate, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, alleged that the manager and organiser may have poisoned the singer and conspired to portray the death as accidental. Investigators also uncovered a ₹1 crore transaction in the bank accounts of Garg’s two personal security officers.
Tributes Back Home Amid Ongoing Probe
Zubeen Garg’s Adya Sharaddha, the 13-day post-death ritual, was held last week in Jorhat, Assam, where thousands gathered to pay their respects. The state government managed large crowds and is coordinating with Garg’s family to immerse his ashes in the Brahmaputra River instead of distributing them to fans as initially planned.
