Guwahati: On the 53rd birth anniversary of Assam’s beloved singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday announced that the Union Home Ministry has granted the mandatory legal sanction required to advance the case related to the artiste’s death in Singapore on September 19.
In a post on X, CM Sarma said Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved the sanction under Section 208 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), allowing investigators to formally proceed against the accused in the case.
“Section 208 of BNSS, in simple language, says: If a crime is committed outside India, the case can be taken up by the court only after the Central Government gives prior sanction,” he added.
“This sanction allows us to file the charge sheet and move ahead firmly and lawfully for the trial of the case,” Sarma said, reiterating the state government’s commitment to submit the charge sheet against the accused persons by December 10.
The announcement comes on a deeply emotional day for fans of Zubeen Garg, whose sudden death in Singapore had sparked widespread grief and prompted strong demands from civil society, admirers, and political leaders for a thorough investigation.
The Assam government had earlier assured that all necessary legal procedures, including coordination with Singaporean authorities, would be followed to take the case to its logical conclusion.
Garg, one of Assam’s most celebrated cultural figures, passed away on September 19 while in the island nation, triggering widespread grief across the Northeast and among Assamese communities around the world.
CM Sarma’s latest announcement is being seen as a significant administrative step forward in a case that has remained in the public spotlight for months.
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As the state commemorates Zubeen Garg’s birth anniversary, the state government’s reaffirmation of its commitment to pursue justice has offered renewed assurance to admirers of an artiste whose music defined an era of modern Assamese music.
