Two Key Associates Arrested in SIT Probe into Zubeen Garg’s Death

Guwahati, Oct 2025 : The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the death of celebrated Assamese singer Zubeen Garg has arrested two prominent figures—North East India Festival (NEIF) chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and Garg’s manager Siddhartha Sharma—in a development that marks a major breakthrough in the high-profile case.

Officials confirmed that Mahanta was apprehended at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport soon after returning from Singapore, where the festival was being held. Sharma was taken into custody from a residential apartment in Gurugram late on Tuesday night. Both were flown to Guwahati in the early hours of Wednesday and are now being interrogated by the SIT, police sources said.

The arrests come nearly two weeks after the sudden demise of Garg in Singapore on September 19. According to reports, the singer had gone on a yacht outing when he developed breathing complications while swimming. Despite being rushed to a hospital, he could not be revived. Singapore authorities issued a preliminary death certificate citing “drowning” as the cause of death.

However, given the prominence of Garg and widespread speculation over the circumstances, the Assam government constituted a 10-member SIT headed by Special DGP M.P. Gupta to ensure a thorough probe. The SIT has since questioned several people linked to the festival, including members of the Singapore Assam Association and others who had travelled from India to attend the event.

Notices were earlier issued to Mahanta and Sharma, directing them to appear before investigators. But their failure to comply led to the issuance of lookout notices. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had revealed that Interpol was approached to help trace the two after they repeatedly ignored summons. The CM had also assured that all possible legal steps would be taken, citing the public outcry and allegations of a possible conspiracy behind Garg’s untimely death.

With Mahanta and Sharma now in custody, investigators believe the probe can move forward significantly. Sources indicated that SIT officials will focus on piecing together the sequence of events leading to Garg’s final hours in Singapore, as well as examining financial and organisational aspects of the festival. Police have not ruled out further arrests as the investigation deepens.

Zubeen Garg, often hailed as a cultural icon of Assam, enjoyed a fan following that stretched far beyond the state. His sudden demise has sparked grief and anger, with demands for justice resonating across the Northeast. The latest arrests are expected to intensify efforts to uncover the truth behind his tragic death abroad.