Assam government orders probe into Zubeen Garg’s death case, FIRs registered against manager & event organiser

Celebrated Assamese singer Zubeen Garg passed away in Singapore on September 20 at the age of 52. According to initial reports, the singer died during a scuba diving session after allegedly re-entering the sea without a life jacket. He was in Singapore to perform at the North East Festival and had been scheduled to appear at the event on the same day.

Assam CM announces probe:

Footage that surfaced online after his death showed Zubeen initially jumping into the water wearing a life jacket. However, it is believed he later returned to the boat, removed the jacket, and jumped back into the sea. He was reportedly pulled out by the Singapore police and rushed to a hospital but could not be revived. Reports also suggest that he had attended a party the night before the incident.

Following his death, the Assam government has announced a formal probe into the matter. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters that the state police would launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. "Assam Police will probe the death of Zubeen Garg and both Mahanta and Sharma, along with those who were present with the singer in his last moments, will be interrogated," he said.

Manager & Event organiser under the scanner:

An FIR has already been filed at the Morigaon police station against Shyamkanu Mahanta, the organiser of the North East India Festival, and Siddhartha Sharma, Zubeen Garg’s manager. The complaint demands accountability from those responsible for managing the singer’s travel and schedule.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Assam Chief Minister also announced that all related complaints would be handed over to the Central Investigation Department. "Multiple FIRs have been filed against Shri Syamkanu Mahanta and Shri Sidharth Sarma in connection with the unfortunate and untimely demise of our beloved Zubeen Garg. I have directed the @DGPAssamPolice to transfer all the FIRs to the CID and to register a consolidated case for a thorough investigation," Sarma wrote.

CM Sarma further stated that Singaporean authorities had also initiated their own inquiry since the incident occurred outside Indian jurisdiction. He added that the state government would look into whether Zubeen was taken from Assam with any wrongful intent.

As the investigation unfolds, fans and the music community across Assam and beyond continue to mourn the loss of one of the region’s most iconic voices. The probe aims to bring clarity to the events leading up to the singer’s death and determine whether any negligence or wrongdoing was involved.