Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax (IT) department will investigate financial irregularities against Shyamkanu Mahanta. Mahanta was arrested last week in connection with the suspicious death of renowned Assamese singer Zubin Garg in Singapore. “We want no one involved in this case to escape and everyone to be held accountable under the legal process,” Sarma said at a press conference.
Zubin Garg’s Death and Arrest
Zubin Garg, 52, was found dead while swimming in the sea in Singapore. He had gone there to attend the North-East India Festival (NEIF), which Mahanta had organized. The Assam Police’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) filed charges of criminal conspiracy, causing death by negligence, and attempted murder against Mahanta and Garg’s manager, Siddharth Sharma. Mahanta and Sharma were arrested on October 1 from Delhi and Gurugram, respectively. During the interrogation, an additional charge of murder was added against Mahanta.
Other Arrests and Investigations
The CID also arrested Garg’s bandmate, Shekharjyoti Goswami, and singer Amritprava Mahanta, who were in Singapore. A search of Mahanta’s Guwahati home yielded several documents, seals, and other details, following which a separate case of financial irregularities was filed against Mahanta. Chief Minister Sarma stated that discussions are underway with central agencies to ensure a professional and transparent investigation into these financial matters.
Foreign Cooperation and Further Action
Sarma stated that the CID is also questioning Garg’s cousin, Sandipan Garg, who traveled to Singapore and was present at the scene. Furthermore, notices were sent to eight Assamese NRIs living in Singapore who organized the yacht party, requesting them to record their statements. The deadline for these statements expired on Monday. “The Singapore government has initiated the process of sharing details of the investigation with Indian authorities under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT). This will expedite our investigation and reveal the actual circumstances,” Sarma said.
