Murder Charges Filed Against Zubeen Garg's Manager and Festival Organiser

Assam Police have filed murder charges against Siddharth Sharma, the manager of late singer Zubeen Garg, and Shyamkanu Mahanta, the organiser of the North East India Festival, following Garg's death in Singapore. The charges were announced on Thursday, October 2, 2025, after both men were arrested in Delhi on October 1. They were subsequently flown to Guwahati under police escort and remanded to 14 days of police custody for further interrogation.

Special DGP of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Munna Prasad Gupta, confirmed that Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to murder, has been added to the FIR. This section prescribes severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty. The two men were initially charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence.

Zubeen Garg, a beloved cultural figure in Assam, passed away on September 19, just before the festival was set to begin. Reports indicate that he drowned at Lazarus Island, although there are conflicting accounts regarding the circumstances of his death. His wife, Garima Saikia Garg, stated that he suffered a seizure while swimming, rejecting claims of a scuba diving accident. An autopsy conducted in Singapore cited drowning as the cause of death, but a second post-mortem was carried out in Assam due to public outcry and allegations of foul play.

The investigation is being conducted by a 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is exploring various angles related to Garg's death. Authorities had previously issued a lookout circular for Sharma and Mahanta after they failed to appear for questioning. Mahanta was intercepted at Delhi airport upon his return from Singapore, while Sharma was arrested in Gurugram after being tracked down.

In addition to the arrests, police recovered Garg's mobile phone from Sharma. The Assam government has also sought assistance from Singaporean authorities through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), with two police officers currently in Singapore to facilitate the investigation. The case has drawn significant attention, and the Assam Chief Minister has emphasized the need for both men to cooperate with the ongoing inquiry.