'Witch hunt, media trial': Zubeen Garg’s fest organizer in plea to Supreme Court

On October 3, 2025, Shyamkanu Mahanta, the organizer of the North East India Festival, filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India seeking the transfer of the investigation into the death of Assamese singer Zubeen Garg to a central agency, either the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Mahanta, who has been charged with a murder connection in Garg’s death, claims that the ongoing investigation is biased and is influenced by the media. He claims he is being subjected to a “well-calculated witch hunt” alleging the false narratives being spread in the Media against him.

Due to the public outrage and social media coverage, Mahanta reports that he is receiving threats to his life and personal safety. Garg died on September 19, 2025, in Singapore, hours before the scheduled performance at the festival. The Assam police have filed over 60 FIRs against individuals associated with Garg, including Mahanta and his manager, Siddharth Sharma, who were arrested on October 1 and remanded to 14 days' police custody. 

Mahanta’s petition requests the Court to freeze the FIR and provide protection for his family from further defamation. The Supreme Court is expected to consider Mahanta’s plea once it reopens on October 6 after Dussehra break.