Assam CM Orders CID Probe into Zubeen Garg's Death: Multiple FIRs Against Festival Organiser and Manager

Following the demise of Assamese music icon Zubeen Garg, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday that multiple FIRs registered in connection with the singer's death will be consolidated and handed over to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for a thorough probe.

The FIRs, filed across various jurisdictions, implicate North East India Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and Zubeen Garg's manager, Sidharth Sarma. In a post on X, the Chief Minister stated, “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.”

The 52-year-old singer passed away on Friday, September 19, 2025, while in Singapore for the North East India Festival.
Reports indicate he was on a yacht with local Assamese residents and members of his team when he experienced breathlessness and a seizure while swimming. Despite immediate CPR efforts by crew members and being rushed to Singapore General Hospital, he was declared dead at around 2:50 pm IST.

The incident, initially reported as a scuba diving accident, has sparked widespread grief and calls for clarity on the circumstances. Authorities in Singapore conducted a post-mortem examination on Saturday, after which Garg's mortal remains were handed over to an accompanying team for repatriation to Assam.
His body is expected to arrive in Guwahati on Sunday morning, where it will be kept briefly at his Kahilipara residence for family tributes before being placed at Sarusajai Stadium for public homage.
The CID investigation aims to uncover any lapses in safety protocols or organisational responsibilities during the yacht outing, which was reportedly arranged separately from the festival activities.