Singer Zubeen Garg's manager, North East India festival organiser arrested

Singer Zubeen Garg was cremated with full state honours in Kamarkuchi village on the outskirts of Guwahati on September 23.

As probe into the death of singer Zubeen Garg widened, a special investigation team (SIT) last night detained North East India Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and the singer’s manager Siddharth Sarma from different states.

The duo has been taken to custody and are under investigation for Garg's death, who died in Singapore while swimming in sea without a life jacket.

Mahanta was taken into custody around 12.30 am (Wednesday) at Delhi airport before being flown to Guwahati, according to a report by News18.

Another SIT team detained Siddharth Sarma from Rajasthan after staying overnight in Gurugram. He is also expected to be brought to Assam shortly.

The Assam government had constituted a 10-member SIT, led by Special DGP M P Gupta, to investigate the singer's death in Singapore due to drowning in the sea on September 19.

The SIT issued notices to several people, including Mahanta, Sarma and members of Singapore Assam Association and those who had gone to Singapore for the festival to appear before it and record their statements.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said earlier that a 'lookout notice' through the Interpol had been issued against Mahanta and Sharma, asking them to appear before the CID by October 6, PTI reported.

Zubeen Garg passes away

The 52-year-old Assamese music icon died on September 19 following a scuba diving accident in Singapore. His mortal remains were first flown to Delhi and later transported to Guwahati on Sunday morning by a commercial flight.

Zubeen Garg was cremated with full state honours in Kamarkuchi village on the outskirts of Guwahati on September 23. The final rites were performed by Zubeen Garg's sister Palme Borthakur. The singer's widow, Garima Saikia, was seen in tears while paying her final tribute to 'Goldie', the name he was known as among friends and family.

A gun salute was given to Zubeen at the crematorium in Kamarkuchi village in Sonapur. Hundreds of people gathered at the crematorium to bid an emotional farewell to their beloved singer.

(With inputs from agencies)