Nearly a month after the sudden demise of Assam’s beloved singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg, the state continues to witness intense scrutiny over the investigation into his death. While a commemorative book honoring Garg was unveiled on Sunday, the post-mortem and viscera reports of the late singer have not yet been filed in court, fueling public calls for full transparency and accountability.
Speaking at a memorial organized by opposition parties, Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi raised serious concerns about the ongoing probe. He alleged that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed by the state government, was being used to protect politically connected individuals, particularly Shyamkanu Mahanta, organizer of the North East India Festival (NEIF), and Garg’s manager Siddhartha Sharma, both of whom are in judicial custody. “The way Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is handling this investigation, it feels like the SIT was formed to hide his close relation with Shyamkanu Mahanta,” Gogoi said.
Gogoi, also deputy leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, questioned the credibility of the investigation, saying legal experts and those familiar with criminal laws are raising doubts. He emphasized that the chief minister appears more concerned with protecting his image than ensuring a fair probe. Paying tribute to Garg, Gogoi described him as a fearless voice for Assam’s people, culture, and environment. “In his absence, we feel a little lost. Our duty is to take forward his dream, and Bhupen Hazarika’s dream, of a ‘Bor Asom’,” he said. 
On the other side, the state government and BJP leaders have stressed that the investigation is proceeding in strict compliance with legal and international procedures. Speaking from Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan, BJP spokesperson Kishor Kumar Bhattacharya underlined that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is personally overseeing the investigation. Bhattacharya condemned attempts to politicize the case or exploit Garg’s legacy. “In a democratic nation like India, the judicial system is robust, and anyone found guilty will face the strictest legal consequences,” he said.
