Parikshit Sharma, who was present on the yacht during musician Zubeen Garg’s death in 2025, has testified in a Guwahati fast-track court. This trial is investigating murder and conspiracy charges against several individuals, marking a major step as the court works to reconcile conflicting findings from Singaporean and Indian authorities.
Parikshit Sharma, an associate of the Assam Association in Singapore, appeared before a special fast-track court in Guwahati on September 2, 2026, to provide his testimony regarding the death of musician Zubeen Garg. Sharma was present on the yacht near Lazarus Island in Singapore on September 19, 2025, when the incident occurred. His account is being treated as a vital piece of evidence, as he is the first witness from the group on the vessel to speak under oath in the ongoing Indian proceedings.
The trial centers on serious charges filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including murder, culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy, and negligence. The list of accused includes prominent figures such as North East India Festival organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta and the musician's manager, Siddharth Sharma. All defendants have pleaded not guilty as the prosecution begins the process of submitting evidence and witness statements.
This domestic trial follows a period of investigative controversy. Previously, the Singapore Police Force and the local Coroner’s Court concluded that the death was an accidental drowning, citing severe intoxication and the failure to use a life jacket as primary factors. However, the investigation in India followed a different path. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Assam Police CID was appointed to conduct a fresh review following the filing of over 60 FIRs. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has publicly questioned the findings of the Singaporean authorities, leading to the current legal challenge in India.
The court is now working to establish a definitive timeline of the event by gathering testimonies from those who attended the North East India Festival event in Singapore. A central challenge for the court is to resolve the significant discrepancies between the original findings released by the Singaporean authorities and the criminal allegations brought forward by the Indian prosecution team.
The Supreme Court of India is actively monitoring the case to ensure the proceedings are handled efficiently. As the trial progresses, the prosecution is expected to call additional witnesses who were present during the festival. The next phases of the trial will focus on verifying these accounts and determining if the evidence supports the charges of foul play alleged by the SIT.