In BJP-ruled Assam, the ruling party's active involvement in the justice campaign has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures and activists, who view it as performative amid accusations of delayed action. BJP workers and supporters have joined daily street protests chanting "Justice for Zubeen", organising rallies across districts like Kamrup and Sivasagar to amplify public anger, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly committing to a thorough probe and crediting fan pressure for the SIT's creation.

As the SIT's investigation intensifies—with a team recently returning from Singapore after exchanging CCTV footage, witness statements, and preliminary reports with local police—the case has escalated dramatically. Seven individuals, including Garg's long-time manager Siddhartha Sharma, festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, musician Shekharjyoti Goswami, and singer Amritprava Mahanta, were arrested in early October on charges under Sections 105 and 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to culpable homicide and negligence. All are now in judicial custody as the probe examines the yacht trip organised by the Assam Association Singapore, where expatriates allegedly failed to ensure safety protocols. The SIT anticipates a charge sheet within 90 days, potentially summoning more witnesses, while Singapore's cooperation—promised within 10 days of the October 21 meeting—could provide crucial digital evidence to clarify the sequence of events during Garg's final moments.

However, leaders from the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Raijor Dal, including MLA Akhil Gogoi, have slammed the BJP for politicising the tragedy—linking it to Garg's final film, Roi Roi Binale, released statewide on October 31, which eerily mirrors his drowning in a sea-crossing scene—while demanding the cancellation of high-profile events like Post Malone's December concert to redirect funds toward a proposed Zubeen Garg Cultural University. Critics argue the government should prioritise an airtight charge sheet over rallies, warning that superficial gestures risk eroding trust in institutions.

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Garg's untimely passing has transcended music, briefly uniting a state fractured by religious and ethnic tensions, as evidenced by the massive funeral procession on September 23—complete with state honours and a 21-gun salute—and the immersion of his ashes in the Brahmaputra River on October 29. Tributes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to opposition leader Rahul Gandhi poured in, hailing Garg's role as a bridge across communities through his multilingual discography and philanthropy.

Yet, as fans break down in theatres watching Roi Roi Binale—sobbing over parallels to his real-life fate—the unresolved questions linger, with the All Assam Lawyers’ Association even barring members from defending the accused. Wife Garima Saikia Garg, who shared his poignant final handwritten letter to fans urging cultural preservation, leads calls for unvarnished truth, embodying the collective resolve that has turned mourning into a movement for accountability in Assam's artistic heartland.

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