Zubeen Garg charge sheet: While Section 103 of BNS was slapped on four of the 7 arrested accused, another accused was slapped with Section 105 of BNS
Murder charges have been slapped on four of the seven arrested accused by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the tragic, untimely and death of cultural icon and heartthrob Zubeen Garg in the charge sheet that was filed at the the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (Kamrup Metro) in Guwahati today (Dec 12).
Section 103 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been slapped on Northeast India Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Zubeen Garg’s manager Shiddharth Sharma, his drummer Shekharjyoti Goswami and co-singer Amrit Prabha Mahanta in the 3,500-page charge sheet which was submitted in court by SIT members Rosy Kalita, Moromi Medhi and Naba Deka.
If convicted, they will face a maximum punishment of being sentenced to death or could be handed life imprisonment.
On the other hand, Section 105 of BNS — culpable homicide not amounting to murder — has been slapped on Zubeen Garg’s cousin brother and APS officer Sandipan Garg.
Section 105 of BNS prescribes imprisonment for life or 5-10 years plus fine if death is caused with intent for death/serious injury, or up to 10 years plus fine if done with knowledge of likely death but without such intent.
Paresh Baishya and Nandeswar Borah — the two arrested PSOs of the heartthrob who were also arrested by the SIT during its probe — have been charged with criminal breach of trust (CBT).
ZUBEEN GARG DEATH CASE TIMELINE
DEATH IN SINGAPORE & CREMATION IN GUWAHATI
Zubeen Garg had tragically passed away in Singapore after he took to the waters near Lazarus Island off the Singapore Strait on September 19.
He was supposed to have performed in the Northeast India Festival in Singapore but died a day before his scheduled performance.
His mortal remains were brought back to New Delhi and was received by Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma in the wee hours of September 21 before they were brought to Guwahati.
Lakhs of people had lined up the streets from the LGBI Airport in Guwahati to his Kahilipara residence to pay their last tributes to their favourite “Zubeen Da”.
Lakhs others paid a teary farewell to the legendary cultural icon at the Sarusajai Stadium where his remains were kept for two days.
A second post-mortem was conducted at GMCH on Sep 23 before the cremation was performed at Kamarkuchi-Hatimura near Sonapur.
ARRESTS & POLICE PROBE
Shyamkanu Mahanta, the manin organiser of the Northeast India Festival, was arrested along with the heartthrob’s manager Siddharth Sharma from Delhi and NCR by separate teams of Assam Police and brought back to Guwahati on Oct 1.
Zubeen’s drummer Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and co-singer Amritprabha Mahanta, who had also gone to Singapore and were with the singer at the yacht ride on that fateful day, were arrested by the Special Investiagtion Team (SIT) after hours of questioning by CID sleuths on Oct 2.
The SIT then arrested the heartthrob’s cousin brother Sandipon Garg, also an APS officer, after days of marathon questioning on Oct 8 while the singer’s two PSO’s — head constable Paresh Baishya and constable Nandeswar Bora — were arrested a day later on Oct 9 after financial transactions running into Rs 1.1 crore were found between them and Zubeen Garg.
Eight persons from Assam staying in Singapore who were part of the yacht ride with Zubeen Garg when the cultural icon passed were also summoned by the SIT.
Seven of them had appeared before police in Guwahati with the SIT questioning them and then recording their statements as part of their investigations.
After the formation of the SIT, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that a Judicial Commission has been constituted to probe the untimely and unfortunate demise of heartthrob Zubeen Garg.
Justice Saumitra Saikia, a sitting judge of Gauhati High Court, was then named to head the single-member judicial commission formed to investigate Zubeen Garg’s death case.
Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier said Zubeen Garg’s death was a “plain and simple murder” and that his government was committed to delivering justice and that the SIT had carried out an exhaustive investigation process.
The SIT had questioned and recorded the statements of 300 people before tabling the charge sheet today (Dec 12), a week before the stipulated 90 days from the day Assam Police registered a case in connection with the heartthrob’s death.
Also read: Sonu Nigam to Open ‘Deewana Tera’ Tour in Guwahati on Dec 14 with a Heartfelt Tribute to Zubeen Garg
