Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (IT) Department to investigate alleged financial irregularities linked to Shyamkanu Mahanta, the organiser of the Northeast India Festival (NEIF) in Singapore, where celebrated Assamese singer Zubeen Garg tragically died last month.
Garg, 52, passed away while swimming during the festival. Following allegations of foul play, the Assam Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) filed charges including criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and death by negligence against Mahanta and Garg’s manager, Siddharth Sharma, both of whom were arrested on October 1. Subsequent interrogations added a charge of murder. CID has also arrested Garg’s bandmate, Shekharjyoti Goswami, and singer Amritprava Mahanta, who were present in Singapore at the time.
The Assam Government has launched a separate probe into Mahanta’s financial dealings after documents and seals were recovered during searches at his Guwahati residence. Chief Minister Sarma said, “We are working with central agencies like ED and IT to professionally investigate these issues. We want to ensure no one connected to Garg’s death escapes accountability.”
The CID is also questioning Garg’s cousin, Sandipan Garg, an Assam police officer present in Singapore, and has issued notices to eight Assamese NRIs who organised a yacht party for the singer.
To facilitate the investigation, the government has invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Singapore, ensuring detailed cooperation and a transparent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Zubeen Garg’s untimely death.
