North East

Lookout notices issued against NE festival organiser, Zubeen Garg’s Manager: Assam CM

• 27 Sep 2025

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday announced that lookout notices have been issued against Shyamkanu Mahanta, organiser of the North East India Festival, and Siddharth Sharma, the manager of late singer Zubeen Garg, in connection with the ongoing investigation into the singer’s death.

Speaking during a Facebook Live session, the Chief Minister revealed that both individuals have been directed to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Guwahati on October 6 to record their statements.

“As Durga Puja is about to begin, we have given them time. But after Dashami, they must come to Guwahati. If they fail to appear, police will intensify the search operation,” said Sarma.

The Chief Minister further informed that Mahanta’s bank accounts and credit cards have been frozen to prevent him from staying abroad for an extended period.

The CID is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Zubeen Garg’s death by drowning in Singapore on September 19. While the official autopsy report from Singapore is awaited, a second post-mortem examination conducted at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital has already been completed.

In a bid to ensure transparency in the probe, Sarma said he has written to the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court requesting the formation of a judicial commission headed by a sitting judge.

The Chief Minister also assured the public that if at any stage the Assam Police is found lacking in its investigation, the case will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Calling for restraint, Sarma appealed to the public not to politicise the tragedy.

“Let us not indulge in anti-government politics in Zubeen’s name to destabilise Assam,” he said.

The death of Zubeen Garg, one of Assam’s most celebrated cultural icons, has sent shockwaves across the state and the Northeast. As investigations continue, public interest remains high, with widespread demands for a thorough and impartial probe.