Guwahati, September 27: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday announced that lookout notices have been issued against Siddharth Sharma, manager of late singer Zubeen Garg, and Shyamkanu Mahanta, organiser of the North East India Festival. The move comes as part of the ongoing investigation into Garg’s death on September 19 in Singapore, where he drowned while swimming during the festival trip.
CM Sarma directed both individuals to appear before the CID in Guwahati by October 6 to record their statements, warning that failure to comply would prompt intensified police action. He also noted that Mahanta’s bank accounts and credit facilities have been frozen to prevent him from remaining abroad.
The Chief Minister added that while a post-mortem has been completed at Gauhati Medical College, the final autopsy report from Singapore is still awaited. A judicial commission led by a sitting judge has been requested from the Gauhati High Court to ensure oversight and transparency in the probe. He further assured Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the case will be transferred to the CBI if Assam Police is unable to deliver justice.
Police raids at the residences of Sharma and Mahanta have so far yielded no results, with Sharma’s family reportedly untraceable since Garg’s death. Meanwhile, the incident has sparked widespread public anger, with fans staging protests and even clashing with law enforcement. In one reported case, a grieving fan attempted suicide by jumping off a bridge.
Appealing for calm, CM Sarma urged the public not to politicize the tragedy and asked for patience during the Durga Puja festivities as the investigation continues.
