Zubeen’s death: CID launches fresh probe over financial crimes

A separate investigation was initiated by the Assam Police against event manager Shyamkanu Mahanta, an accused in singer Zubeen Garg’s death, for his alleged involvement in organised financial crimes and acquiring properties by money laundering, official documents showed. Shyamkanu is the younger brother of former DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, who is presently the chief information commissioner of the Assam State Information Commission. His another elder brother is Nani Gopal Mahanta, who was the education advisor to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma before becoming the vice chancellor of Gauhati University.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) seized bundles of “incriminating” documents and items from Shyamkanu’s home during the raid on Thursday and Friday, the documents showed.
Among them were multiple PAN cards in the name of one firm, nearly 30 stamp seals of different companies and government officials, and documents related to several benami properties.
After the search, CID’s Senior SP Ashif Ahmed filed a detailed FIR, a copy of which is with PTI, listing all the recoveries, requesting a separate probe into the alleged financial irregularities of Mahanta by attaching and freezing all his properties.
After receiving the complaint, the CID headquarters registered a case on Saturday night under multiple sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhtia (BNS), and appointed Additional SP Moramee Das as the investigating officer.
The CID is currently probing Garg’s death after more than 60 FIRs were lodged across the state against Mahanta, the main organiser of the Northeast India Festival in Singapore where the singer had gone to perform, and almost 10 others, including the icon’s manager Siddharth Sharma.
“The possession and use of multiple PAN cards in the name of the same entity prima facie establishes fraudulent intention and deliberate manipulation to conceal or project tainted money as untainted,” it added.
Further, 28 stamp seals were recovered from the Mahanta’s office premises. These included seals in the name of various companies and many government officials, according to the FIR.
“Such recovery strongly indicates the accused’s involvement in forgery, impersonation, fabrication of official documents, and use of such forged instruments for financial transactions with the intent to cheat financial institutions, Government departments, and other stakeholders,” it said.