The Assam Police have escalated their investigation into the death of singer Zubeen Garg, filing murder charges against his manager Siddharth Sharma and festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta. Both are currently in police custody and being questioned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
CID Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta confirmed that the two men were remanded for 14 days by a court and said that investigators have added Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) to the case. The section prescribes either the death penalty or life imprisonment, along with a fine, for those convicted of murder. Gupta refrained from sharing further details, citing the ongoing nature of the inquiry.
Earlier this week, the two accused were booked under charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and negligence leading to death. The charges were later upgraded after new findings emerged during interrogation.
Shyamkanu Mahanta, one of the accused, is a well-known figure in Assam&rsquo;s cultural circles and comes from an influential family. His elder brother Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta is a former state DGP and currently serves as the Chief Information Commissioner, while another brother, Nani Gopal Mahanta, was an advisor to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma before becoming Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University.
The development comes as Zubeen Garg&rsquo;s family continues to demand clarity over the singer&rsquo;s final hours in Singapore, where he died on September 19 reportedly by drowning in the sea. His wife, Garima Saikia Garg, who is currently observing post-death rituals in Jorhat, told reporters that she was relieved to see the accused brought to Assam for questioning. She said she trusted the investigating team and hoped the truth about his last moments would soon be uncovered.
The Assam government has already formed a 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. More than 60 FIRs had been registered across the state against Sharma, Mahanta, and others after the news of Garg&rsquo;s death, leading the Chief Minister to direct all complaints to be consolidated under the CID for a comprehensive investigation.
The sudden loss of Zubeen Garg, a cultural icon and one of Assam&rsquo;s most celebrated voices, has left the state in mourning and heightened public pressure on authorities to ensure that the investigation reaches a clear conclusion.

Zubeen Garg Manager, organiser booked for murder

Assam Police add murder charge against Zubeen’s manager and organiser after fresh probe

Zubeen Garg Manager, organiser booked for murder

Assam Police add murder charge against Zubeen’s manager and organiser after fresh probe

October 3, 2025 | 24:19 IST