Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday (September 24, 2025) said that the State will be prohibiting Shyamkanu Mahanta and any organisation associated with him from holding any functions or festivals within Assam. This comes less than a week after the passing away of Assamese singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore, where he was slated to participate in the North East Festival. Mr. Mahanta has been the organiser of the North East India Festival since 2013.

Garg died in Singapore on September 19, 2025 during a yacht trip with 17 others, including two crew members. A non-invasive autopsy conducted on the island concluded that the cause of death was “drowning.” He was to perform at the ongoing North East Festival a day later.

Garg’s sudden demise sent shockwaves across Assam, with many demanding an independent inquiry into the matter. After Garg’s remains were brought back to India, the State Government decided to conduct a second autopsy following a demand from fans, who suspect Garg, battling ill-health, was made to go swimming despite instructions from his doctors to keep him away from water and fire.

According to an earlier report by The Hindu, Garg is alleged to have been emotionally blackmailed into performing at the 4th North East India Festival in Singapore. The show was cancelled after his death.

Additionally, more than 50 first information reports were filed against Mr. Mahanta, the festival’s chief organiser, and Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma. The State government instructed the Crime Investigation Department to club all the FIRs and probe the circumstances that led to Garg’s death.

Also read | Guwahati unites in grief as fans pay last respects to Zubeen Garg

Among several organisations, the Assam Citizens’ Forum has demanded an impartial investigation into Garg’s death through a panel comprising former police officers, crime experts, judges, and lawyers.

“The State Government will not provide any financial grant, advertisement, or sponsorship to any event with which he [Mr. Mahanta] is associated, either directly or indirectly. The State Government will also request the Government of India not to extend any financial assistance or sponsorship to him in any manner,” Mr. Sarma further said in his post on X today.

North East India Festival an attempt to promote trade, tourism

Mr. Mahanta has been the chief organiser of the North East Festival since 2013. Over the years, the festival has expanded from its initial location in New Delhi to several cities across the world. The first edition of NEIF was held in Bangkok in 2019 and again in the same city after a gap of two years in 2022 while the third edition was held in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City in 2023.

This year’s edition was expected to mark the 60th anniversary of India–Singapore diplomatic relations and also coincided with the India-ASEAN Year of Tourism.

In a statement to PTI Mr. Mahanta had described the festival as “an attempt to connect Northeast India with Southeast Asia to promote industry, trade, tourism and agricultural products from the region.” After we organised the festival in Thailand, a direct flight between Bangkok and Guwahati started, he said.

Apart from this, Mr. Mahanta also heads MMS Advisory Pvt. Ltd., a project management consultancy firm. He has previously been felicitated by the former CM of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal during an annual Convention of Tour Operators Association of Assam in 2019.

Mahanata distances self from Garg’s accident

Following Garg’s accident, Mr. Mahanta and his team in a statement on Facebook had stated that had no prior information of Garg taking the yacht trip.

“Zubeen had told the festival organising team that he wanted to go to Singapore and we arranged for his stay at a hotel,” Mr. Mahanta told PTI from the island nation. “He had not come for the festival alone but had also made his own plans with members of the Assam Association in Singapore,” Mr. Mahanta claimed.

Garg had spoken to members of the Assam Association from the northeastern State itself and had made plans with them to visit places and relax before participating in the festival, he said.

“He was also not supposed to give a full-fledged performance but wanted to meet, interact with people and sing a few songs for them,” Mr. Mahanta said.

Garg did not even bring his entire team of musicians but only his cousin Sandeepan Garg, his manager Siddhartha Sharma and only one musician, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, he said.

“We had not asked him to perform at the festival, but he always attended our events, whether in India or abroad. He felt it was his duty, as a prominent figure from the Northeast, to represent the region and give out a positive message about the region from all platforms,” he claimed.

Mr. Mahanta claimed that a section of people was trying to peddle a false narrative.

“I want to make it clear that Zubeen Garg had come on his own free will. There are videos circulating on social media claiming that he had already performed in Singapore, which is not true as our event was scheduled to begin on Friday and he had not participated in any event before the mishap occurred,” he said.

“Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has also mentioned that I was not present with Zubeen during the incident,” Mahanta said.

(With inputs from PTI)

Published – September 24, 2025 01:14 pm IST