Assam SIT names seven accused in Zubeen Garg case, four face murder charges

Guwahati: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the untimely death of Assam singer Zubeen Garg has named seven individuals in its charge sheet, with four of them facing murder charges.

The document was submitted to the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Kamrup (Metro), on Friday, December 12.

Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta, who leads the nine-member SIT, briefed the media on the legal sections applied to each accused based on the investigation findings.

Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with murder and carries penalties of death or life imprisonment, has been applied to Shyamkanu Mahanta, the festival organiser; Siddharth Sharma, Zubeen Garg’s manager; Shekharjyoti Goswami, the drummer and band member; and Amrit Prabha Mahanta, the co-singer.

The chargesheet was submitted by SIT members Rosy Kalita, Moromi Medhi, and Laba Deka.

Section 105 of the BNS, which covers culpable homicide not amounting to murder, has been invoked against suspended Assam Police officer and Garg’s cousin, Sandipan Garg. This section carries imprisonment ranging from five to ten years, which may extend to life depending on intent and severity.

Two of the late singer’s personal security officers, Paresh Baishya and Nandeswar Borah, have also been charged under Section 61(2) of the BNS for criminal conspiracy and Section 316(5) for criminal breach of trust.