Guwahati: Palmee Borthakur, sister of late Assamese cultural icon Zubeen Garg, on December 20 broke her silence with a detailed social media statement, voicing distress over what she described as sustained character attacks and online abuse directed at her brother and his wife, Garima Garg. She appealed to the public to stop speculation and allow the justice system to function without interference.
Borthakur said she felt forced to speak out as repeated allegations, rumours and personal attacks had crossed all limits, severely affecting Garima Garg’s health. She questioned the motives of individuals she referred to as “masked friends and self-proclaimed fans,” accusing them of spreading defamatory narratives while taking pleasure in the family’s suffering.
She stressed that the family’s only demand was justice and said that gossip, insinuations and public trials could never substitute due legal process. Calling Zubeen Garg irreplaceable, she urged people to honour his legacy by standing for courage, compassion and humanity—values she said he embodied throughout his life.
Addressing misinformation surrounding the investigation, Borthakur clarified that Garima Garg had never claimed to be satisfied with the chargesheet filed in the case. She explained that Garima had merely acknowledged the legal sections invoked against the prime accused. She added that the family had not yet received a signed and sealed copy of the chargesheet and therefore could not comment on its contents in detail. She reiterated their trust in the Special Investigation Team, the Assam Chief Minister and the judiciary.
Responding to questions about why Garima Garg did not file a separate complaint in Singapore, Borthakur said authorities in both Assam and Singapore were already conducting investigations. She cautioned that initiating parallel legal proceedings could lead to conflicting narratives, noting that the findings of the Singapore Police had remained consistent so far.
Borthakur also expressed disappointment over what she described as a lack of cooperation from certain Assamese individuals based in Singapore, despite repeated appeals from the SIT and the Chief Minister. She singled out Abhimanyu Talukdar, alleging that his media interactions reflected insensitivity and a casual, even mocking, attitude toward Zubeen Garg’s death, which she said deeply hurt the family. She urged all individuals present in Singapore at the time of the incident to come forward, testify before the court and speak truthfully.
Calling for restraint, Borthakur reminded the public that only a court of law has the authority to decide guilt or innocence based on evidence. She warned against prematurely declaring any accused innocent before the judicial process concludes.
Reflecting on the family’s loss, she said their lives had come to a standstill even as the outside world moved on. She appealed to people to remember Zubeen Garg through creativity, empathy and humanity rather than political narratives, adding that only sincere admirers should raise their voices in the pursuit of justice.