Assam CM seeks ED, IT probe into North East India Festival accounts amid Zubeen Garg death investigation

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said government has roped in Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department to look into the accounts of Shyamkanu Mahanta, the chief organizer of the North East India festival in Singapore.

The chief minister while addressing the mediaperson on Monday, "We are in discussion with the Central government agencies. We have requested the ED and IT to look into the accounts (of Shyamkanu Mahanta and North East India Festival) professionally. We need the help of central agencies also and I hope they would help us,” said Sarma.

NEIF chief organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta and Zubeen’s Manager Siddhartha Sharma had already been arrested by the police for their alleged role in the death of Zubeen Garg.

The CID of the Assam police had instituted an Special Investigating Team (SIT) to probe the circumstances leading to Zubeen’s death in Singapore. The Assam government had also instituted a Judicial Commission under Justice Soumitra Saikia to examine the circumstances surrounding the demise Zubeen Garg.

The Chief Minister said that efforts are on to convince the nine members of the Assam Association Singapore, who were present on the yacht with Zubeen Garg in Singapore on the day of his death, to come and depose before the CID, who is investigating the death of the iconic singer.

Sarma said that one of the nine, identified as Rup Kamal Kalita has agreed to come and he is likely to depose before the investigating team on Tuesday. “I hope all of them would come and depose before the investigators. There is obviously a fear factor but we are trying to convince them to come.

Sarma said that the Assam government’s request for legal assistance has already reached the Singapore authorities and it is pending. “As per the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, the police force in each country would help the force in the other country. It is a legal understanding between India and Singapore."

Refuting the allegation of state sponsorship, the Assam Chief Minister said that Assam has approved very minimal amounts. “It is mostly from our neighbouring states that he has got sponsorships ,” he added.