Zubeen Garg death probe: Assam wants to invoke mutual assistance treaty with Singapore

Following this, a Special Investigation Team in Assam began investigating a case in connection with his death, which the CID registered against the festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Zubeen Garg’s manager Siddhartha Sharma and others under sections of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide not amounting to murder and causing death by negligence.

The case was registered after dozens of complaints were filed against Mahanta and Sharma in police stations across Assam. Garg’s family also filed a similar complaint with the CID on Saturday.

CID summons NE Fest organiser, Zubeen’s manager

The CID has summoned Mahanta and Sharma to appear before the probe agency by October 6. Neither of them has returned to Assam since the incident.

On Monday, CM Sarma said, “The government of Assam has submitted a formal request to the Ministry of Home Affairs to invoke the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with Singapore in connection with the unfortunate demise of our beloved Zubeen. Once invoked, this will ensure full cooperation from Singaporean authorities – giving us access to case details and assistance to bring back the accused and secure justice.”

The governments of Singapore and India have an agreement concerning “mutual legal assistance in criminal matters”, which enables help on locating and identifying persons, obtaining statements or taking evidence, production of material, execution of requests for search or seizure, and so on. The Ministry of Home Affairs is the designated authority which can make or receive requests for the purposes of the agreement.