New Delhi, Oct 3 (NationPress) The chief organiser of the North East India Festival (NEIF), Shyam Kanu Mahanta, has approached the Supreme Court with a petition claiming he has been unfairly treated as a "scapegoat to mitigate the current public anger incited by media coverage" regarding the tragic passing of Zubeen Garg, a celebrated singer from Assam, in Singapore.

In his writ petition, the 53-year-old festival head asserts that he is a victim of "a meticulously orchestrated witch-hunt fueled by reckless media coverage, both in print and digital formats, aimed at fabricating a false narrative concerning his alleged involvement in the unfortunate death of his close friend, Mr. Zubeen Garg."

The petition clarifies that Mahanta was not present at the location of the singer's untimely passing. It states that on the morning of September 19, he was busy at the Shangri-La Hotel, managing the festival arrangements and welcoming dignitaries, including Chief Ministers and senior officials from the North East, when he was alerted about the incident.

Reports indicate that the event occurred while the late singer was enjoying leisure time on a yacht with family and friends on an island in Singapore.

According to the petition, the Singaporean authorities have conducted their investigations, finding "no indications of foul play" in the singer's death.

Following the incident, Mahanta has faced a surge of public hostility and threats online, with examples of violent messages, including death threats stating, "Come home and we will burn you alive" and "If you step foot into Assam, we will cut you into small pieces."

The petition also highlights a resolution from the All Assam Lawyers’ Association, discouraging legal representation for individuals accused in the case, which "threatens the fundamental principles of the criminal justice system, where the right to fair representation and investigation is deemed inviolable."

Mahanta's plea seeks to transfer the investigation to a central agency such as the CBI or NIA, arguing that the ongoing probe overseen by Assam officials "renders the investigatory process ineffective," with numerous FIRs filed across Assam and adjacent states. He asserts that he is a victim of media trials, claiming that the media has prematurely declared him guilty and sensationalized the case even before any official inquiry began.

The petition requests protection for his life and liberty, preservation of evidence from Singapore, and interim safeguards against further FIRs related to the same matter.

Mahanta argues that the ongoing legal proceedings, despite lacking any incriminating evidence in the jurisdiction where the incident transpired, constitutes a severe misuse of the legal process and a violation of his fundamental rights, particularly the right to life and a fair trial as protected under Article 21 of the Constitution.