Zubeen Garg’s manager and festival organiser arrested in connection with death case while en route to Guwahati

Zubeen Garg’s manager, festival organiser arrested in connection with singer’s death.

Guwahati: Assam Police on Wednesday arrested North East India Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and Zubeen Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma in connection with the celebrated singer’s death in Singapore last month.

Mahanta, detained in Singapore, was brought to Delhi before being flown to Guwahati under tight security. Sharma was arrested from a Gurugram flat and will also be taken to Guwahati, police sources said. Interpol lookout notices had been issued against both last week. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Mahanta and Sharma must appear in Guwahati on October 6 to record their statements before the probe team.

A 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Special DGP MP Gupta, is investigating Garg’s death. The SIT had earlier searched Sharma’s home in Guwahati and seized documents. Drummer Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, who attended Garg’s sea outing at Singapore’s Lazarus Island, was arrested last week for questioning.

Zubeen Garg (52), one of Assam’s most beloved singers, died on September 19 in Singapore. Initial reports suggested a scuba diving mishap, but his wife, Garima Saikia, stated he suffered a seizure while swimming. Singapore authorities listed drowning as the cause of death, while a second post-mortem was conducted in Assam amid public protests and allegations of foul play.

The Union government has invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Singapore, with two Assam Police officers already in Singapore to seek cooperation. Garg’s death has caused widespread grief in Assam, with fans demanding transparency and answers.