Zubeen Garg death case: Event organiser moves SC seeking transfer of probe

Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta in police custody. PIC/X@somanigaurav

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court by Shyamkanu Mahanta, chief organiser of the Northeast India Festival, seeking transfer of probe into the death of Assamese singer Zubeen Garg from the state police's SIT to a central agency such as the Central Bureau of India (CBI) or the the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The plea claimed that Mahanta has been subjected to a "vicious media trial" and "scapegoating" in connection with Garg's sudden death. The plea stated that he was busy organising the three-day cultural festival in Singapore scheduled for September 19-21 and was not present at the site of Garg's death.

It said Mahanta last met the singer on September 17, two days before the incident. The plea sought transfer of the probe from the Assam SIT to the CBI or the NIA, and that it be monitored by a retired Supreme Court judge.

Meanwhile, a court in Assam on Friday sent Garg's band members Shekharjyoti Goswami and Amritprabha Mahanta to 14 days of police remand following their arrest on Thursday. Drummer Goswami and co-singer Mahanta were arrested on Thursday after days of interrogation. The two were present on the yacht in Singapore when Garg died.

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