A formal petition from Assam, India, has been submitted to the Singapore Police Force calling for transparency in the investigation into the death of Zubeen Garg, the iconic Assamese artist who died on 19 September 2025 while in Singapore for the Northeast India Festival.
The petition, signed by 59 residents of Sonapur and Dimoria, was addressed to Commissioner of Police Hoong Wee Teck.
It was also shared with Singapore’s Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Attorney-General Lucien Wong, Presiding Judge of the State Courts Justice Vincent Hoong, and State Coroner Adam Nakhoda. The High Commission of India in Singapore received a copy as well.
According to the press release issued on 13 October 2025 by the campaign organisers, the appeal was described as a “humanitarian request” rather than an adversarial legal challenge.
“The people of Assam hold great respect for Singapore’s reputation for integrity, transparency, and humane governance,” the petition stated, urging that “due process be honoured” to offer peace to millions grieving Garg’s loss.
Garg, aged 52, was reported to have drowned during a yacht outing near St John’s Island. Singapore police initially stated that no foul play was suspected.
It has been reported that Singapore government issued the singer’s death certificate, which states that he died due to drowning.
However, following intense public scrutiny, the Assam government ordered a second autopsy, formed a judicial inquiry led by a Gauhati High Court judge, and established a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Expanding investigation in Assam
Meanwhile, in Assam, the investigation into Garg’s death has intensified under the SIT.
According to The Indian Express , Garg’s manager Siddhartha Sharma and festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta were arrested in Delhi on 1 October and transported to Guwahati for questioning on suspicion of negligence and conspiracy. On the following day, two bandmates—Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta—were also detained.
NDTV reported that on 8 October, Garg’s cousin and Assam Police officer Sandipan Garg was arrested.
Shortly thereafter, two of Garg’s long-serving personal security officers, Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya, were detained after investigators found deposits exceeding Rs 10 million (approx. £84,959) in their accounts. Police described the sums as disproportionate to their incomes.
Garg’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, later clarified that the money had been used for the singer’s charitable work and was well-documented. “Zubeen had given some money to the PSOs for the social work he does. They have all the bank statements and maintained a diary of transactions,” she told NDTV.
More than 60 FIRs have been registered across Assam in connection with the case, citing charges including murder, culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy, and gross negligence (The Times of India, 10 October 2025).
Public response and petition movement
Public anger has translated into large-scale vigils, marches, and digital mobilisation. Pratidin Time reported that the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) organised candlelight vigils and protests throughout the state.
Actress Amrita Gogoi called for a digital protest on 13 October, as reported by The Sentinel Assam. A campaign slogan “Justice for Zubeen” has gained visibility both in physical gatherings and online, according to The Times of India, which described the movement as spreading “from sand to screens”.
A petition on Change.org has also been launched demanding a fair and impartial investigation, and calling for those who were with Garg at the time to be questioned thoroughly.
The citizen-led petition submitted to Singapore was coordinated in part by Rakesh Hazarika, Director of the Global Pandemic Response Forum and Executive Director of the Centre of Efficient Governance (CEG).
In a media statement, he described the appeal as peaceful and non-political, guided by faith in Singapore’s legal institutions.
Ongoing legal cooperation
Indian authorities are currently awaiting cooperation from Singapore under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), which would provide access to autopsy reports, witness statements, and medical records.
Authorities in Assam are also reviewing yacht surveillance footage and videos circulated on social media that show Garg entering the water—both with and without a life jacket.
The Northeast India Festival, which Garg had been scheduled to headline on 20 September, was cancelled following his death.
Festival organiser Mahanta has stated that the yacht trip occurred without his team’s knowledge, claiming they were in official meetings at the time.
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