On Sunday, October 19, 2025, Assam Congress president and Member of Parliament, Gaurav Gogoi, leveled serious allegations against the state’s BJP government. He accused them of deliberately protecting two main individuals suspected in the untimely and puzzling death of Zubeen Garg, Assam’s cherished singer and cultural icon. These accusations surfaced as the state collectively mourned, marking one month since Garg’s tragic demise.
A preliminary investigation report had previously indicated that Garg’s death, on September 19, occurred due to drowning while he was swimming near a Singapore island.
Mr. Gogoi specifically named Shyamkanu Mahanta, the organizer of the North East India Festival in Singapore where Garg was slated to perform, and Siddharth Sharma, the singer-composer’s manager, as the two individuals allegedly being shielded.
Speaking to journalists during a public condolence ceremony in Guwahati – an event organized by various non-NDA and Left Front parties – Mr. Gogoi asserted that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating Garg’s death was not proceeding correctly.
The Congress leader further claimed that the state government formed the SIT with the express purpose of protecting Mahanta and Sharma, both currently held in judicial custody at Baksa Central Jail. He highlighted their alleged close connections to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the ruling BJP.
“All information regarding these two individuals must be brought into the public domain,” Mr. Gogoi declared. “We suspect the Chief Minister established the SIT not to uncover the truth of Zubeen’s death, but rather to conceal his own associations with them.”
He added, “Numerous legal experts are questioning the integrity of the SIT probe. Given that the Chief Minister is closely overseeing the investigation, it appears his priority has shifted to safeguarding his own reputation.”
Lurinjyoti Gogoi, president of the Assam Jatiya Parishad, echoed the call for transparency, appealing to all parties to avoid politicizing the sensitive case. He remarked, “Zubeen Garg was a vocal advocate against societal injustice. It is our duty to strive for the kind of society he envisioned.”
At the memorial gathering, opposition party leaders and thousands of fans laid floral tributes before Garg’s portrait, and a special commemorative book was unveiled in his honor.
Simultaneously, at Garg’s memorial site (samadhi) on the outskirts of Guwahati near Sonapur, thousands from all corners of Assam converged to pay heartfelt respects. A strong resolve was evident among them to escalate demands for justice for Zubeen Garg and his grieving family.
Beyond Mahanta and Sharma, the 10-member SIT has also made five other arrests in connection with the case: Sandipan Garg (Zubeen’s cousin and a police officer), Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya (his personal security officers), Sekharjyoti Goswami (a bandmate), and Amritprabha Mahanta (a co-singer).