Zubeen Garg death probe: Assam CM invokes treaty with Singapore

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that the Union Government has invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty MLAT with Singapore in connection with the FIR lodged by Assam Police regarding the unfortunate demise of the iconic singer Zubeen GargSarma while conveying the development on his social media handle also posted the letter of the Union Home MinistryThe letter mentioned ldquoPlease find enclosed a Mutual Legal Assistance MLA request in original along with a copy of the same seeking legal assistance from the Republic of Singapore in the investigation of the subject Case It is requested that the original Mutual Legal Assistance Request may please be forwarded to the Attorney General of Singapore the Central Authority of Singapore suitably indicating the requirements of the attached MLA request under intimation to this MinistryIt is further requested that on receipt of responseexecution report the same may please be forwarded to this Ministry for onward transmission to the Investigating Agencyrdquo it addedThe Assam government earlier formally approached the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to invoke the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with Singapore in connection with the probe into the death of celebrated singer Zubeen Garg Chief Minister Sarma had said on MondayGarg 52 passed away in Singapore on September 19 a day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India FestivalHe reportedly developed breathing complications while swimming during a yacht outing The death certificate issued by Singaporean authorities cited the cause of death as ldquodrowningrdquoIn the wake of the incident the Assam Police constituted a Special Investigation Team SIT to examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy The state CID subsequently registered a case naming festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta Gargrsquos manager Siddhartha Sharma and others booking them under Sections related to criminal conspiracy culpable homicide not amounting to murder and causing death by negligenceThe case was filed after multiple complaints were lodged in police stations across Assam by fans and members of the public accusing the organisers of negligenceGargrsquos family also submitted a complaint to the CID on Saturday seeking a thorough probe Officials said invoking the MLAT will help investigators secure critical evidence and official documents from Singaporean authorities including medical and forensic reports to assist the ongoing enquiry in AssamThe SIT has already questioned several individuals who were present in Singapore at the time of Gargrsquos death and has issued lookout notices for Mahanta and Sharma With public demand for justice mounting the government is pushing for international cooperation to establish the exact circumstances that led to the untimely demise of one of Assamrsquos most beloved cultural icons