Guwahati: Shyamkanu Mahanta, organiser of the North East India Festival, has approached the Supreme Court seeking the transfer of the investigation into the death of singer Zubeen Garg from the Assam Police to a central agency like the CBI or NIA. Mahanta also requested protection against multiple FIRs filed against him and his family members across Assam and neighbouring states, citing a media trial and public vilification.
In his petition, Mahanta stated that he was not present at the scene of Garg’s death in Singapore on September 19, 2025, as he was busy managing festival arrangements. He asserted that the allegations against him are baseless and highlighted that Singapore authorities have not found any evidence of foul play in the case.
Mahanta also urged the Supreme Court to direct the Union of India to procure investigation records from Singapore and to appoint a retired judge to oversee the probe. Additionally, he requested that media platforms refrain from publishing unverified or biased reports related to the case.
Following the filing of the petition on September 29, Mahanta was arrested by Assam Police on October 1 and remains in custody. The Supreme Court has not yet scheduled a hearing on the matter.
The petition reflects concerns over the fairness and impartiality of the ongoing investigation, as well as the impact of widespread media coverage on the reputation of Mahanta and his family.