Gautam Adani Visits Zubeen Garg’s Family as CID Deepens Probe into Singer’s Mysterious Death

Adani Family Pays Tribute in Guwahati

Guwahati, Sept 28 — Industrialist Gautam Adani, accompanied by his son Jeet and senior executives of the Adani Group, visited the residence of late singer-composer Zubeen Garg in Kahilipara on Sunday evening. The business magnate, who spent nearly half an hour with the family, offered floral tributes and expressed his condolences to Garg’s widow Garima Saikia Garg.

The visit underscored the cultural weight Garg carried not only in Assam but across India. “Adani and his son sat with Garima for some time and shared their grief at the untimely passing of the state’s icon,” a family source told this correspondent.

Garg, often described as Assam’s "music heartbeat," died suddenly in Singapore on September 19, while swimming in the sea. His death shocked millions of fans, sparking emotional vigils across the Northeast.

CID Steps Up Pressure with Fresh FIR

While condolences continue to pour in, the Assam Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has intensified its probe into the circumstances surrounding Garg’s death.

A senior official confirmed that raids last week at the home and office of event manager Shyamkanu Mahanta, the main organiser of the NorthEast India Festival in Singapore, yielded what investigators described as “incriminating evidence.” Among the seizures were:

• Two separate PAN cards issued to the same company, Trend MMS

• 28 forged stamp seals, some in the names of government officials

• Property documents linked to benami acquisitions

• Papers tied to road construction projects under the PMGSY scheme in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh

“These recoveries strongly suggest forgery, impersonation, and money laundering activities with possible cross-border implications,” the CID’s FIR stated.

Investigators believe Mahanta and associates may have laundered large sums by projecting illicit funds as legitimate income. CID officials have requested freezing of all his assets under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Family Files Formal Complaint

Adding further weight to the case, Garg’s wife Garima, his sister Palme Borthakur, and uncle Manoj Kumar Borthakur formally lodged a written complaint with the CID on Saturday.

The family’s petition specifically named Siddharth Sharma (Garg’s manager) and Shyamkanu Mahanta as accused, demanding a probe into their roles before and during the Singapore trip.

“We have asked that everyone who was around Zubeen on the day he died be questioned. This is not just about financial irregularities but about accountability for his life,” Manoj Borthakur said.

In response, a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted under DGP Harmeet Singh to focus exclusively on Garg’s death.

Political and Public Fallout

The case has escalated beyond a cultural tragedy into a full-blown political storm. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed on Sunday that Mahanta had been served with an October 6 deadline to surrender.

“All his accounts have been frozen. The government will not hesitate to take stern action if he fails to comply,” Sarma told reporters.

Meanwhile, the singer’s fans and cultural organisations across Assam have demanded swift justice. Many see Garg’s passing not only as a personal loss but also as a test of the state’s commitment to protecting its cultural icons.

A Legacy at Stake

For decades, Zubeen Garg defined Assamese popular music, bridging local traditions with pan-Indian sensibilities. From chart-topping film tracks to his vocal activism on social and political issues, Garg was both a celebrity and a conscience keeper. His sudden death in a foreign land has left behind unresolved questions that strike at the core of Assamese cultural pride.

While tributes from industry leaders like Adani highlight Garg’s towering legacy, the simultaneous financial and criminal allegations against festival organisers have cast a shadow over what was meant to be a celebration of Northeast culture in Singapore.

Conclusion

As Assam mourns, the battle for truth has only begun. With the CID tightening its investigation and influential voices joining the chorus for justice, the coming weeks will likely determine whether Garg’s death remains a mystery or transforms into a watershed moment for transparency in cultural events abroad.

For now, his music continues to echo in the streets of Guwahati — a reminder of a voice silenced too soon, and of a legacy too powerful to be forgotten.