Assam Police have arrested Siddharth Sharma, manager of legendary singer Zubeen Garg, and Shyamkanu Mahanta, chief organiser of the North East India Festival, in connection with Garg’s suspicious death in Singapore on September 19. Both were apprehended in separate operations—Mahanta at Delhi airport as he arrived from Singapore, and Sharma in Gurugram after evading authorities in Rajasthan and Delhi. After being flown to Guwahati, they were remanded to 14 days of police custody by a judge at Kamrup CJM’s residence due to Durga Puja court closure.

The arrests come as part of a criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide investigation, with accusations of causing death by negligence. Assam’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by DGP Munna Prasad Gupta, is leading the probe after dozens of FIRs were filed against the accused by Garg’s family and associates. Lookout notices were previously issued via Interpol for both men, and Sharma’s and Garg’s mobile phones have now been seized for examination. Security was tight during their transfer, reflecting the case’s high profile and public outcry.

Garg’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, has expressed public confidence in the SIT, but remains anxious for the truth regarding Garg’s final moments. She highlighted questions over negligence and lack of medical assistance, especially given Garg’s known seizure history. A second postmortem was conducted in Guwahati on September 23 following public demand, but the detailed report is awaited while Singapore authorities have also been approached for mutual legal assistance.

Authorities now hope interrogation of Sharma and Mahanta, as well as analysis of Garg’s recovered phone, will clarify whether negligence or a larger conspiracy led to the singer’s tragic death at sea during a festival outing in Singapore. The investigation continues, with the SIT questioning all who were present on the yacht, and the Assam government banning Mahanta from organising future events in the state.