Guwahati, January 24: Family members of Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg on Saturday submitted a memorandum to Narendra Modi, urging the constitution of a Special Court in Assam to ensure an expedited trial and sustained diplomatic and legal engagement with Singapore in connection with the late singer’s death.
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| File Photo: Zubeen Garg |
In the memorandum, the family described Zubeen Garg as “not only a member of our family, but a cultural voice of Assam and India’s North-East,” stating that his sudden and untimely death in Singapore on September 19, 2025, had left “millions seeking clarity and lawful action.”
Expressing faith in constitutional processes, the family said, “We place this memorandum before you with faith in the constitutional authority of your office and the commitment of the Government of India to justice, dignity, and the rule of law.”
According to the submission, authorities in Singapore initiated proceedings suo motu immediately after the incident, while the Indian High Commission coordinated post-mortem and related formalities. The family later lodged an FIR with CID Assam, following which the Government of Assam constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The SIT, led by senior officers, travelled to Singapore as part of the probe. After nearly three months of investigation, Assam Police filed a charge sheet running over 2,500 pages and, based on the evidence collected, invoked sections related to murder, the family stated.
The memorandum further said a detailed representation was submitted to the Singapore Coroner’s Court—both in writing and during the first day of the coroner’s inquiry—seeking clarity on the sequence of events, safety protocols, human decisions, and emergency response during the final hours of Zubeen Garg’s life. “These are questions of opportunity lost in the final hours of Zubeen’s life that must be fully and transparently examined,” it added.
Stating that they have remained in continuous engagement with authorities in both countries, the family maintained there had been “no inaction, hesitation, or dilution” in their pursuit of the truth.
Among their key demands, the family sought the constitution of a Special Court in India to ensure focused adjudication and avoid procedural delays arising from the Assam Police charge sheet. They also called for the appointment of additional senior, nationally experienced prosecutors to strengthen the prosecution and requested fast-tracking of the trial through appropriate judicial and administrative measures.
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The memorandum further urged the imposition of strict bail conditions, asserting that none of the accused should be released until the completion of the judicial process. It also sought active diplomatic and legal engagement with Singapore at the highest level to monitor proceedings in the Coroner’s Court and ensure that all relevant materials, testimonies, and findings are shared with Indian authorities.
“We are a family in grief, but also citizens of a Republic founded on justice,” the memorandum said. “In this hour, we draw strength from the people of Assam, who stand with us as part of our family.”
