Guwahati
Assam Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched a fresh investigation against event manager Shyamkanu Mahanta, an accused in singer Zubeen Garg’s death, over alleged organised financial crimes, including money laundering and acquisition of benami properties.
Mahanta is the younger brother of former Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta. The probe follows raids on his residence and office, where CID seized multiple incriminating documents, including two PAN cards for the same firm, nearly 30 stamp seals of different companies and government officials, and papers linked to benami properties. Officials also found documents connected to road construction projects under the PMGSY scheme in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
CID Senior SP Ashif Ahmed filed an FIR citing “serious financial irregularities, forgery, and fraudulent activities” and called for a separate investigation into Mahanta’s finances, urging attachment and freezing of his properties. The FIR noted that possession of multiple PAN cards and forged seals points to a “well-structured conspiracy” under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
A nine-member Special Investigation Team is already probing Garg’s death after over 60 FIRs were lodged against Mahanta and associates, including Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma. Garg, who died in Singapore on September 19 during the Northeast India Festival organised by Mahanta’s company, had gone there to perform.
The fresh investigation underlines the CID’s aim to uncover alleged financial misappropriation and related crimes, separate from the ongoing inquiry into Garg’s death.