Assam CIC Quits as Brother Held in Zubeen Garg Case

• By Thetripurapost Desk, Guwahati
• Nov 06, 2025
• 612

In a dramatic twist to the mysterious death of Assam’s iconic singer Zubeen Garg, the state’s Chief Information Commissioner, Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, has resigned on moral grounds. His resignation came after his brother, Shyamkanu Mahanta, was arrested in connection with Garg’s death in Singapore.

Shyamkanu, a well-known organiser and entrepreneur, had been managing Garg’s stage show in Singapore, scheduled for September 20. The singer was found dead on September 19, just a day before the concert, under what was initially described as a scuba diving accident.

However, the investigation has since taken a darker turn, with charges now including murder, culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy, and death by negligent act. Two of Garg’s private security guards, Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya, have also been arrested for their alleged involvement in malicious financial transactions amounting to ₹1.1 crore.

Authorities in Singapore conducted a detailed autopsy in October, later sharing the report with Indian investigators. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues to probe what happened in the crucial 48 hours before Garg’s death, especially after pharmaceutical drugs were found in his luggage.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that a chargesheet will be filed against Shyamkanu Mahanta before December 17, officially treating the case as murder rather than accident.

Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta’s resignation adds a moral and political dimension to a case that has already shaken Assam’s cultural and administrative circles.