Amid Assam mourning the untimely death of singer-composer Zubeen Garg, a remarkable story from his life has become the talk of the moment. The incident revolves around a unique agreement he once made with his then-manager, Tarsame Mittal, at an unusual location, a cremation ground.
Zubeen himself had shared this story on multiple occasions. Adding to this, an old video of Tarsame Mittal recounting the episode during a TEDx Talk has resurfaced. While narrating his entrepreneurial journey, Mittal revealed how Zubeen had once insisted on a unusual agreement, one that went far beyond business.
Zubeen Garg’s Agreement
According to Mittal, when he was managing Zubeen, he wanted a proper written contract in place. One day, Zubeen asked him to meet him at 4 a.m.. When he arrived , Zubeen led him to a cremation ground. Mittal questioned the choice of place. Zubeen responded that if Zubeen were to die first, Mittal would cremate him; and if Mittal were to pass away first, Zubeen would perform his last rites, this was the agreement!
Mittal explained that this unusual pact signified the depth of their bond, a relationship that could never truly be defined or limited by a legal piece of paper.
Allegations against Mittal
As the mystery surrounding Zubeen Garg’s death still remains unresolved several allegations have been made against different persons. Fingers are being pointed at Siddharth Sharma, Zubeen’s current manager; Shyamkanu Mahanta, the organiser of the North East India Festival; members of the Assam Association in Singapore, who were present during the tragic incident; and others.
Meanwhile, some people have also raised suspicions about Tarsame Mittal, citing reports that Siddharth Sharma had previously worked as his assistant. While these allegations may lack substantial evidence, in the court of public opinion they are fueling speculation that there could be deeper involvement in the incident. There has been some speculation regarding his involvement in the company owned by Zubeen.
The Business Deal
According to publicly available records, ZUBEEN GARG MUSIC LLP (LLPIN: AAZ-5718) is a Limited Liability Partnership incorporated on 23 December 2021 and registered with the Registrar of Companies, Shillong. The firm’s total obligation of contribution stands at ₹10,00,000.
The designated partners of the LLP are Tarsame Mittal, Zubeen Garg, and Siddharth Sharma.
As per the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), the last Statement of Accounts and Solvency was filed for the financial year ending 31 December 2024, while the Annual Return was filed on 15 December 2024.
The LLP’s registered office address is:
House No. 233, Near Luit Niwas, Ramchahill, Joypur Kharguli, P.S. Latasil, Guwahati, Assam, India- 781004. Its official email address is zubeengargmusic1@gmail.com, and the current status of the company is Active.
Alleged Negligence
Owing to the alleged negligence of Siddharth Sharma and the business partnership, some have also pointed fingers at Mittal, despite his reputation among those familiar with his work as a highly professional and courteous gentleman.
Fans have already filed complaints at different police stations against many of them as accused in the incident and the state government has already formed a SIT under the supervision of Crime Investigation Department (CID),Assam Police .
The CID, Assam, has registered Case No. 18/2025 under Sections 61(2), 105, and 106(1) of the BNS, 2023, in connection with the suspicious death of the artiste. As part of the investigation, the SIT and CID teams carried out raids at the residences of his manager, Siddharth Sharma, fellow musician Sekhar Jyoti Goswami, and Shyamkanu Mahanta.
During the searches, they seized several items, including a USB drive, a hard disk, a computer CPU, documents, and other materials.
Complaint by the family
Meanwhile, the family of Zubeen Garg has lodged a formal complaint seeking justice in the matter. The complaint, signed by his wife Garima Saikia Garg, sister Dr. Palme Borthakur, and uncle Manoj Kumar Borthakur, urges a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances of his death.
The family specifically demanded that all key individuals present at the time including festival organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta, manager Siddhartha Sharma, and the 11 Assamese residents who were with Garg on the yacht, be brought under the scope of investigation.
Assam Police has confirmed receipt of the complaint, stating that it will be integrated into the ongoing probe conducted by a 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) under CID supervision. Investigating officers have already visited Garg’s Guwahati residence to record family statements.
Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has directed that multiple FIRs filed in connection with the case be consolidated into a single CID investigation. He further warned that strict action will be taken against anyone found to be uncooperative during the proceedings.
Zubeen Garg passed away in Singapore on September 19 in an alleged drowning incident.
Tarsame Mittal’s rise to fame
For almost two decades in the Indian music and entertainment industry, Mittal has managed over 60 renowned artistes, including Arijit Singh, Sunidhi Chauhan, Amit Trivedi, Badshah, Kapil Sharma, Vishal Bhardwaj, Nucleya, Vishal & Shekhar, Rekha Bhardwaj, and Zubeen Garg.
He is the founder of TM Ventures, which encompasses “TM Talent Management,” India’s leading artiste management company; “Entertainment Consultant,” a specialized entertainment solutions agency; and “Create and Collab,” the organizer of All About Music, the country’s premier music industry conference.
His entrepreneurial career began in event management, paving the way for his transition into artiste management. Alongside, he explored diverse ventures such as outdoor advertising, printing, publishing a news tabloid, and running a consulting agency.
According to some sources his career as an artiste manager began with Zubeen Garg.
Prime Minister’s message
In the latest episode of Mann Ki Baat (aired on September 28th), Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Assamese music legend Zubeen Garg, who passed away recently.
Expressing his condolences, he said, “People are mourning the untimely demise of Zubeen Garg ji. He was a celebrated singer who earned recognition across the nation and shared a deep bond with the culture of Assam. Zubeen Garg will forever live in our memories, and his music will continue to enchant generations.”
Calling him the “Kohinoor of Assamese culture,” the Prime Minister added, “Though he is no longer with us physically, he will always remain in our hearts.”
Disclaimer:
This article is based on publicly available information, including past interviews and videos shared by Zubeen Garg and Tarsame Mittal. The details have been compiled for informational purposes only. We do not claim independent verification of the events mentioned.
Also read:
Millions Say Goodbye to Zubeen Garg, the Music Icon of Assam…
Pronita Devi, an M.A. in Political Science, has spent over a decade in electronic and digital media. She regularly contributes insightful articles on geopolitics and current affairs, bringing clarity and depth to complex global issues.