Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta Steps Down Amid Controversy
Former Assam Director General of Police and current Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, resigned from his post on Thursday. His decision came after the arrest of his brother, Shyamkanu Mahanta, in connection with the death of popular singer and filmmaker Zubeen Garg in Singapore.
In a Facebook post, Mahanta said he was resigning “due to a special circumstance.” He added that his inner conscience compelled him to step down to maintain transparency and public trust. According to him, if any Right to Information (RTI) query was filed regarding his brother, it could raise doubts about the integrity of the commission.
Mahanta confirmed that he had informed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s office before submitting his resignation to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya. His tenure as CIC was originally scheduled to end in March 2026.
Brother’s Arrest Linked to Zubeen Garg Case
Shyamkanu Mahanta, a cultural promoter and event organiser, was among seven individuals arrested in connection with the death of Zubeen Garg. The celebrated artist died on September 19 while swimming in the sea during a yacht party held in Singapore.
Shyamkanu was the chief organiser of the North East India Festival in Singapore, which Garg attended shortly before his death. Authorities are investigating alleged negligence and possible foul play. Following his arrest, public attention shifted to the Mahanta family, putting pressure on the CIC to address potential conflict of interest issues.
RTI Query Triggered Resignation
According to Bhaskar Mahanta, a key factor in his resignation was an RTI query seeking details of financial grants provided by the Assam government to his brother for organising state-sponsored events. Since the query involved Shyamkanu directly, Mahanta felt that continuing in office might compromise the credibility of the commission.
He stated that although the State Information Commission would have responded appropriately to the query, stepping down was the ethical choice to ensure no “shadow of doubt” remained in the public’s mind.
Mahanta’s Career and Public Response
Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, a 1988 batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, served as Assam’s Director General of Police from 2019 to 2023. He was appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner in March 2023.
His resignation has sparked mixed reactions. Some praised his decision as a rare example of accountability in public life. Others argued that he could have stayed in office until the investigation concluded. However, Mahanta emphasised that moral responsibility guided his choice.