North East India Festival (NEIF) chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, alleged to be involved in the death of legendary singer Zubin Garg in Singapore, is brought to the CID office following his arrest from Delhi, in Guwahti, Assam. (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI: Shyamkanu Mahanta, the organiser of the North East India Festival in Singapore where Assamese singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg passed away last month, could come under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (IT) Department.Also Read: After Zubeen Garg’s death, CM Himanta Biswa blacklists fest organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta in AssamThe two central agencies are expected to join the Assam Police in probing alleged organised financial crimes and the acquisition of benami properties by Mahanta, PTI reported on Friday, citing sources.
“The ED and the I-T department have visited the CID office and discussed the case with senior officials. They are likely to join the probe with CID, and a formal decision may come very soon,” a source said.In addition to its investigation of Mahanta—and Garg’s long-time manager Siddarth Sharma—in connection with the singer’s sudden death, the Assam Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched a separate probe against Mahanta. The inquiry follows the discovery of “financial irregularities” allegedly committed by him over 20 years ago during his tenure at a non-banking financial company.Also Read: Assam Police add murder charge in FIR against Zubeen Garg’s manager, festival organiser; probe intensifiesThe CID seized bundles of “incriminating” documents and items from his residence during raids on September 25 and 26. The items included multiple PAN cards in the name of the same firm, nearly 30 stamp seals of various companies and government officials, and documents related to several benami properties. However, Assam Police Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta declined to comment on whether the ED and IT Department would join the probe, saying, “I cannot comment on their behalf. It is up to them to decide.”More than 60 FIRs have been lodged across the state against Mahanta, Sharma, and around 10 others, including the late singer’s band members Shekharjyoti Goswami and Amritprabha Mahanta.Also Read: Singapore shares Zubeen Garg’s autopsy report with India; why bandmate and singer were taken into custodySpecial DGP Gupta is heading a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.Garg died under mysterious circumstances in Singapore on September 19 while swimming in the sea. He had travelled there to attend the fourth edition of the North East India Festival, organised by Mahanta and his company.
