North East India Festival (NEIF) chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and Zubeen Garg's manager Siddhartha Sharma, arrested in connection with the singer's death in Singapore, have been sent to 14-day police custody.
Mahanta and Sharma were produced before the CJM (Chief Judicial Magistrate Court) at his residence in Guwahati on Wednesday. Mahanta had invited Garg to participate in the festival. Mahanta was arrested on his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi from Singapore while Sharma was arrested from an apartment in Gurugram.
What we know so far?
The singer passed away at the age of 52 in Singapore. He was visiting the country as a cultural brand ambassador for the North East India Festival, scheduled for September 20 and 21, where he was also supposed to perform.
According to reports, Garg died during a scuba diving incident. However, his wife, Garima Saikia Garg, clarified that the singer suffered a seizure while swimming at Lazarus Island, dismissing claims of an incident linked to scuba diving. She has also alleged that Garg had become a victim of negligence, questioning the lack of medical assistance and security on Mahanta’s part and of negligence on Sharma’s part.
On September 19, he was reportedly taken for a yacht outing by members of the Assam Association Singapore and lost consciousness while swimming. He was declared dead when he was taken to Singapore General Hospital. The cause of death was mentioned as “drowning.”
The Assam government had constituted a 10-member SIT to investigate the singer's death. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs also urged the Singapore government for assistance in the probe from their authorities based on a Mutual Legal Assistance agreement between the governments of India and Singapore.
According to News18, Shyamkanu is the younger brother of former DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, who is the chief information commissioner of the Assam State Information Commission. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) reportedly seized bundles of “incriminating" documents and items from Shyamkanu’s home during the raid on Thursday and Friday.
The CID is currently probing Garg’s death after more than 60 FIRs were lodged across the state against Mahanta, the main organiser of the Northeast India Festival in Singapore and almost 10 others, including the Assamese cultural icon’s manager Sarma.
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.
Garg was cremated with full state honours in Assam’s Kamrup district on September 23, with lakhs of fans turning up to bid him a final farewell.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
Find the best of Al News in one place, specially curated for you every weekend.
Stay on top of the latest tech trends and biggest startup news.