CID Arrests Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddharth Sharma in Zubeen Garg Death Case

In a major breakthrough in the Zubeen Garg death investigation, Assam Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested Shyamkanu Mahanta, chief organizer of the North East India Festival (NEIF), and Siddharth Sharma, the late singer’s manager. The arrests follow intense scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding Garg’s drowning during a yacht outing in Singapore on September 19.
The CID apprehended Mahanta at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport upon his return from Singapore, where he had reportedly fled after the incident. Sharma was detained in Gurugram. Both suspects, previously issued Interpol lookout notices and summoned by the CID, were brought to Guwahati under tight security.
On Wednesday, the CID presented Mahanta and Sharma before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) at the magistrate’s residence in Kamrup Metro district. The court granted 14 days of police custody to facilitate further interrogation. The case, linked to over 50 FIRs alleging criminal conspiracy and negligence, continues to unravel details of the tragic NEIF event.
Assam’s Director General of Police (DGP), Harmeet Singh, reassured the public, stating, “The investigation is on the right track. We are committed to delivering justice. Please allow us to work as per legal procedures.” The probe, led by Special DGP M.P. Gupta, includes ongoing raids and questioning of event associates.
As Assam mourns the loss of its cultural icon, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has hinted at the possibility of transferring the case to the CBI if needed. Fans and well-wishers continue to pay tribute to Garg, with his music echoing across Durga Puja celebrations statewide.