Zubeen Garg’s Festival Organiser, Manager Jailed by Police Fourteen Days

In a stunning escalation of the probe into the tragic drowning of Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg, the mastermind behind the North East India Festival (NEIF) and the late singer's trusted manager were hauled into custody Tuesday, remanded to a grueling 14 days of police interrogation by the Kamrup Chief Judicial Magistrate. Shyamkanu Mahanta, NEIF's chief organizer, and Siddhartha Sharma, Zubeen's long-time manager, were dramatically arrested in Delhi and Gurugram, then whisked back to Guwahati amid swirling suspicions of foul play in the 52-year-old superstar's death on September 19.

The arrests cap a whirlwind of intrigue that has gripped Assam since Garg's body was repatriated from Singapore, where he had jetted off as a cultural ambassador for the NEIF – a vibrant showcase of Northeast India's heritage set to feature his electrifying performance. What was billed as a celebratory weekend turned nightmarish when Garg, affectionately known as "Zubeen Da" to millions, suffered a fatal mishap during a leisurely swim off Singapore's coast. Initial reports painted it as a freak accident: breathing distress mid-dip, frantic CPR on the beach, a desperate rush to Singapore General Hospital's ICU, and a heartbreaking pronouncement at 2:30 PM IST. But whispers of scuba diving gone wrong quickly morphed into darker theories – was it really an innocent outing, or something more sinister?

Assam Police, acting on a family-filed complaint laced with unanswered questions, sprung into action. A 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), spearheaded by Special DGP M P Gupta, was swiftly assembled by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who didn't mince words: "Nobody will be spared if foul play is uncovered – we're even open to handing this to the CBI." An Interpol lookout notice had been slapped on Mahanta and Sharma days earlier, with a stern deadline to report to the CID by October 6. But the duo's evasion – Sharma zigzagging through Delhi and Rajasthan, Mahanta fleeing Singapore straight to the capital's airport – only fueled the fire.

Also Read: Zubeen Garg Drowning Case: Police Nab Festival Organizer, Longtime Manager

Caught red-handed, Mahanta was nabbed at Indira Gandhi International Airport upon touchdown from Singapore, his face a mask of disbelief as officers closed in. Sharma, holed up in a Gurugram hideout, was traced via relentless digital sleuthing and dragged out in handcuffs. With Durga Puja holidays shuttering the courts, the pair was paraded straight to the magistrate's residence for an emergency hearing. The verdict: 14 days in the slammer for grilling, followed by a transfer to the CID's fortified headquarters. "This is just the beginning," a senior cop confided to PTI. "We're digging deep – timelines, communications, the works. Singapore's cooperating, but we need every detail from these two."

Garg's grieving widow, Garima Saikia Garg, now in Jorhat for the somber 13th-day rituals, broke her silence with a mix of relief and raw anguish. "I'm satisfied they've been brought back to Assam," she told reporters, her voice steady yet eyes brimming. "We've all been waiting, hearts in knots, to uncover what truly happened in Zubeen's final moments. I have complete faith in the SIT – soon, we'll have answers, and justice." Garima's words echo a statewide outpouring: From tear-streaked vigils in Guwahati's Kahilipara – where fans still flock to the singer's home – to heated debates in tea stalls, Assam is united in grief and demand for truth. The second post-mortem, ordered amid public uproar just before Garg's state-honored cremation on September 23, confirmed drowning but left nagging doubts about the circumstances.

Zubeen Garg wasn't just a voice; he was Assam's beating heart. Over three decades, the Meghalaya-born prodigy – real name Zubeen Borthakur – conquered Bollywood with soul-stirring hits like "Ya Ali" from Gangster and "Dil Tu Hi Bataa" from Krrish 3, while anchoring Assamese cinema as singer, composer, actor, and even director. His lyrics wove tales of love, loss, and cultural pride, earning him the moniker "Voice of Assam." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and legions of admirers mourned his loss, with the state declaring three days of mourning and vowing a grand memorial in his native Kamarkuchi village.

As the SIT pores over CCTV from the fateful beach, encrypted chats, and witness statements from the Assam Association Singapore – who were with Garg that day – pressure mounts on the accused. Mahanta, the festival's flashy promoter, faces scrutiny over event logistics and Garg's itinerary. Sharma, privy to the singer's every move, must explain his post-incident travels. "They were the last to see him alive and well," sources hint, alluding to potential oversights or omissions in the emergency response.

With Durga Puja festivities overshadowed by this unfolding drama, Assam holds its breath. Will the custody unearth a tragic accident, or unravel a web of negligence – or worse? For Garima and a bereft nation, the wait for closure is agonizing, but the quest for truth unbreakable. Zubeen Da's melodies may have fallen silent, but his legacy demands nothing less than full accountability.

Also Read: Assam CM Ensures Grand Tribute for Zubeen Garg’s 13th-Day Rituals in Jorhat