Assam Police have taken Siddharth Sharma into custody following allegations that he, along with Shyamkanu Mahanta, may have poisoned renowned Assamese singer Zubeen Garg during a yacht outing in Singapore. Previously, Garg’s death had been considered an accidental drowning, but these new claims point to a possible deliberate plot.
Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, a recordist and bandmate of Garg, filed a statement under Section 175 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). In his statement, Goswami alleged that Sharma and Mahanta deliberately selected an overseas location to carry out their plan. He said he stayed with Sharma in Room 3010 of the Pan Pacific Hotel in Singapore, where he observed suspicious activity in the days leading up to the singer’s death.
Goswami claimed the plot was intended to make Garg’s death appear accidental. He alleged that Sharma forcibly took control of the yacht from the sailor during the trip, making it unstable. As Garg struggled in the water, Sharma reportedly shouted in Assamese, “Jabo de, jabo de” (“let him go, let him go”). 
The recordist stressed that Garg was an experienced swimmer who had trained both himself and Sharma, making accidental drowning unlikely. Goswami also stated that when Garg showed signs of distress, including frothing at the mouth and nose, Sharma dismissed it as acid reflux and failed to call for medical assistance, which authorities say may have contributed to his death.
The statement further alleges that Sharma told Tanmoy Phukan, an NRI member of the Assam Association in Singapore, not to serve drinks to others, claiming he alone would provide them, and tried to stop Goswami from sharing yacht videos that could serve as evidence.
Police have gathered supporting evidence, including witness testimonies, financial records, and documents, leading to Sharma’s arrest. He faces charges of criminal conspiracy, murder, and culpable homicide. The arrest was authorized by Dr. Rosie Kalita, Senior Superintendent of Police at Assam’s Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell, citing Sharma’s failure to provide a credible account of the events surrounding Garg’s death.
