Dibrugarh/Guwahati

Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, demanding an explanation on the alleged links between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and a key accused in the death case of renowned singer Zubeen Garg.

Gogoi has also sought a formal statement from Jaishankar regarding Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s assertion that Garg’s death in Singapore amounted to “murder”.

The popular singer died on September 19 while swimming in the sea in Singapore, where he had travelled to participate in the 2025 edition of the North East India Festival (NEIF).

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Assam Police has so far arrested seven individuals in connection with the case. Among them is Shyamkanu Mahanta, the chief organiser of the festival.

In his letter to Jaishankar on Thursday, Gogoi stated that the event was organised by the MEA with support from the Indian High Commission in Singapore. He further underlined that one of the accused in the ongoing investigation was “directly associated” with the festival’s organisation — a remark that appears to refer to Mahanta.

The Congress leader alleged that the accused operated an organisation that had received payments worth several lakhs of rupees from the MEA for hosting festivals and events.

“The relationship between the Ministry of External Affairs and a person who is one of the accused in a murder, as claimed by the Chief Minister of Assam, is extremely concerning,” Gogoi wrote.

He urged the minister to respond to Sarma’s public claim and to clarify the nature and extent of the association between MEA officials and the accused figure.

READ MORE: 2 Muslims discover essence of India through their temple visits

“I am bringing this issue to your attention and request that the Ministry issue a clear statement regarding the chief minister’s claim, and also provide clarity on the association between the senior leadership of the Ministry of External Affairs and one of the accused in the case,” Gogoi added.