In a significant move on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared that the state would prohibit Shyamkanu Mahanta and any organizations linked to him from organizing events or festivals across Assam. This announcement comes less than a week after the heartbreaking passing of Assamese musical icon Zubeen Garg in Singapore, where he was scheduled to perform at the North East Festival. Mr. Mahanta has been the driving force behind the North East India Festival since its inception in 2013.
Zubeen Garg tragically died in Singapore on September 19, 2025, during a yacht excursion involving 17 other individuals and two crew members. A non-invasive autopsy conducted on the island nation concluded that drowning was the cause of death. He was slated to perform at the ongoing North East Festival just one day later.
Garg’s sudden death sent shockwaves throughout Assam, with countless fans and citizens demanding a thorough and independent investigation into the incident. After his remains were repatriated to India, the State Government ordered a second autopsy, responding to public outcry. Many fans suspected that Garg, who was reportedly in poor health, was pressured into participating in water activities despite medical advice to avoid water and fire.
Reports from The Hindu indicated that Garg was allegedly subjected to emotional blackmail, forcing him to perform at the 4th North East India Festival in Singapore. The festival’s planned show was subsequently canceled following his death.
Furthermore, over 50 First Information Reports (FIRs) were lodged against Mr. Mahanta, the festival’s chief organizer, and Garg’s manager, Siddharth Sharma. The State government has directed the Crime Investigation Department to consolidate all these FIRs and initiate a comprehensive probe into the events leading up to Garg’s demise.
Among several concerned groups, the Assam Citizens’ Forum has called for an impartial investigation into Garg’s death, advocating for a panel composed of former police officers, crime experts, judges, and legal professionals.
“The State Government will not offer any financial grants, advertisements, or sponsorships to any event where he [Mr. Mahanta] is involved, whether directly or indirectly. The State Government will also formally request the Government of India to refrain from extending any financial assistance or sponsorship to him in any capacity,” Chief Minister Sarma further elaborated in a post on X today.
North East India Festival: A Vision for Regional Promotion
Mr. Mahanta has been the primary organizer of the North East Festival since 2013. Over the years, the festival has grown significantly, moving beyond its initial venue in New Delhi to various international cities. Its first international edition was held in Bangkok in 2019, followed by another in 2022, and the third in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in 2023.
This year’s festival was intended to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore and also coincided with the India-ASEAN Year of Tourism.
In a statement to PTI, Mr. Mahanta described the festival as “an endeavor to connect Northeast India with Southeast Asia, aiming to bolster industry, trade, tourism, and agricultural exports from the region.” He proudly noted that a direct flight route between Bangkok and Guwahati was established after the festival’s success in Thailand.
In addition to his role with the festival, Mr. Mahanta leads MMS Advisory Pvt. Ltd., a project management consultancy. He was previously honored by former Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal during an annual convention of the Tour Operators Association of Assam in 2019.
Mahanta Distances Himself from Garg’s Accident
Following Garg’s accident, Mr. Mahanta and his team released a statement via Facebook, asserting that they had no prior knowledge of Garg’s yacht trip.
“Zubeen had informed the festival organizing team of his desire to visit Singapore, and we arranged his hotel accommodation,” Mr. Mahanta told PTI from the island nation. He claimed, “He had not traveled solely for the festival but had also made personal arrangements with members of the Assam Association in Singapore.”
Mahanta stated that Garg had communicated with members of the Assam Association from his home state and had planned visits and relaxation activities with them before his scheduled participation in the festival.
“He wasn’t even scheduled for a full-length performance, but rather wished to engage with people and sing a few songs,” Mr. Mahanta clarified. He added that Garg traveled with only a minimal team, including his cousin Sandeepan Garg, manager Siddhartha Sharma, and a single musician, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami.
“We never explicitly asked him to perform at the festival, but he always graced our events, both domestically and internationally. He felt it was his duty, as a prominent figure from the Northeast, to represent and convey a positive message about the region on all platforms,” Mahanta asserted.
Mr. Mahanta further claimed that a segment of the public was attempting to spread a misleading narrative. “I want to emphasize that Zubeen Garg attended of his own free will. Videos circulating on social media erroneously suggest he had already performed in Singapore, which is untrue, as our event was slated to commence on Friday, and the mishap occurred before any of his scheduled appearances,” he said.
“Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has also publicly stated that I was not present with Zubeen during the incident,” Mahanta concluded.