Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday announced that Shyamkanu Mahanta, along with any organisation associated with him, is barred from holding functions or festivals in the state. The government also stated that it will not provide financial grants, advertisements, or sponsorships for events connected to Mahanta, and will request the Government of India to refrain from extending assistance.

The decision follows multiple FIRs filed against Mahanta, chief organiser of the North East India Festival, and Sidharth Sarma, manager of singer Zubeen Garg, after Garg’s death during a yacht outing in Singapore.

Garg, a prominent cultural figure in Assam, was widely recognised for his contributions to music and the state’s cultural identity. His sudden death has prompted scrutiny over the Singapore trip and raised questions about safety measures.

Mahanta previously stated that Garg had gone on the yacht outing with local Assamese community members and that festival organisers had no prior knowledge of the trip. Public calls for accountability have persisted, including social media campaigns holding Mahanta and Sarma responsible.

Garg was laid to rest with full state honours at Kamarkuchi NC village on Tuesday. The funeral was attended by Chief Minister Sarma, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, celebrities, and thousands of citizens. His sister, Palme Borthakur, performed the sacred mukhagni ritual alongside his protégé Rahul Gautam, while his wife Garima Saikia Garg attended the ceremony amid Vedic hymns and ceremonial gun salutes. Garg’s iconic song Mayabini was played during the funeral, reflecting his 2019 remark that “entire Assam has to sing this song.”