Assam: Zubeen Garg Death Case: Assam Police Arrest Siddharth Sharma and Shyamkanu Mahanta

GUWAHATI- In a dramatic turn in the investigation into the mysterious death of Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg, the Assam Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested two key figures — Siddharth Sharma, Garg’s long-time manager, and Shyamkanu Mahanta, chief organizer of the 4th North East India Festival (NEIF) held in Singapore.

The arrests, made in the National Capital Region in the early hours of October 1, come amid mounting public outrage and widespread calls for justice after the 52-year-old singer-actor reportedly drowned during a yacht trip off Singapore’s Lazarus Island on September 19.

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• Mahanta was detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi around midnight on Sept 30 after arriving from Singapore.
• Sharma was picked up from a Gurugram apartment at around 1:30 a.m. on Oct 1.
• Both were flown to Guwahati under tight security and presented before the Kamrup Chief Judicial Magistrate, who granted 14 days’ police custody despite court closures during Durga Puja.

According to SIT sources, the arrests were based on credible leads and 55+ FIRs filed by fans, family, and community groups demanding accountability.

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Zubeen Garg was in Singapore to perform at the 4th North East India Festival when tragedy struck. Viral videos showed him swimming in the sea shortly before his death, fueling speculation of foul play. The festival was canceled in the aftermath, and public grief quickly turned into demands for a deeper probe.

The Assam government invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Singapore, sought Interpol cooperation, and set an October 6 deadline for suspects to join the probe.

The SIT — comprising 9–10 senior officers — has questioned:

• Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, Garg’s drummer.
• Sandipon Garg, the singer’s brother.
• Actress Nishita Goswami, a close associate.

Notices have also been served to 11 others, including members of the Singapore Assam Association, which helped organize the event. The team is analyzing viral video clips, forensic evidence, and eyewitness accounts to determine whether Garg’s death was accidental or the result of negligence or conspiracy.

Zubeen Garg, known for his songs and films that shaped generations of Assamese culture, has left behind a void felt across the Northeast. Fans describe him as the “heart and soul of Assam,” and candlelight vigils continue in Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and other towns. Hashtags like #JusticeForZubeen and #TruthForZubeen are trending across social media.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assured that “no stone will be left unturned” in uncovering the truth, calling Garg a “symbol of Assamese pride.”

The SIT will now interrogate Sharma and Mahanta about:

• The organization and safety measures of the yacht trip.
• Funding and management of the NEIF event.
• Their role in events leading up to Garg’s final hours.

The outcome of this case could have far-reaching cultural and political implications, not just in Assam but across the Northeast, where Garg was revered as a unifying figure.

For now, Assam waits anxiously for answers in a tragedy that has shaken its very soul.