Over three and a half months after the tragic death of singer Zubeen Garg, his wife Garima Saikia Garg and sister Pami Barthakur held their first press conference to announce the formation of a trust to preserve Zubeen’s legacy and carry forward his unfinished projects.
The trust, centered around Zubeen’s Kharghuli residence, will focus on arts, culture, social initiatives, and wildlife conservation. Under the trust, the Kalaguru Foundation, Abhinaya Performing Arts, and a research centre on Zubeen’s work will operate. Pami Barthakur stated that the trust aims to continue Zubeen’s vision with the support of fans, artists, and community leaders.
Garima highlighted that the ₹2.90 crore GST collected by the Assam government from the ticket sales of Zubeen’s last film, Roi Roi Binaal, has been handed over to the Kalaguru Artists’ Foundation. She also thanked Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for appointing a special public prosecutor and ensuring a fast-track court for the case.
Referring to the charge sheet, Garima revealed serious lapses in Zubeen’s safety and medical care in Singapore. Videos and documents show that he was left unattended for 75 minutes after being rescued from water, forced to swim without a life jacket, and suffered injuries during untrained CPR, including broken ribs and head trauma.
The charge sheet also exposed that a planned “One Last Tour” across ten cities, where Zubeen was to announce his retirement from live shows, was organized without the knowledge of Zubeen, his family, or band members.
Garima urged authorities to ensure swift and transparent justice, emphasizing that only strict legal action against the accused will honor Zubeen’s legacy and provide closure to his family and fans.
