Assam Chief Information Commissioner Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta on Thursday resigned from his post, more than a month after the arrest of his brother, Shyamkanu Mahanta, in connection with the death of singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore, The New Indian Express reported.

His decision came after discussions with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the newspaper reported.

The move followed a Right to Information application filed seeking data related to government funds given to his younger sibling Shyamkanu Mahanta, PTI reported.

Zubeen Garg, a renowned Assamese singer, died on September 19 during a yacht trip in Singapore, a day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival there.

The event had been organised by the Indian government and the Indian high commission in Singapore, with support from the Assam Association and the North East India Association in the country.

A death certificate issued by the Singaporean authorities on September 20 stated the cause of Zubeen Garg’s death as drowning.

Seven persons have been arrested in the case, including Shyamkanu Mahanta, who was the organiser of the North East India Festival, Zubeen Garg’s manager Siddharatha Sharma and two musicians who were with the singer on the yacht – Shekharjyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta.

Others who have been arrested include Zubeen Garg’s cousin Deputy Superintendent of Police Sandipan Garg, who had travelled with him to Singapore, and two of the singer’s personal security officers.

In his resignation letter, Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta, a former Indian Police Service officer and ex-director general of Assam Police, said that he felt it would be inappropriate for him to continue as the chief information commissioner once his brother’s name surfaced in the media in connection with the case, The New Indian Express reported.

“My conscience told me that if any RTI application were filed concerning my brother, it might give rise to doubts or misinterpretations,” he said.

Mahanta said he had already informed the chief minister’s office of his intention and had directed colleagues to alert him if any new RTI requests related to his brother were received.

“Those who know me have no doubt that even if I were in-charge, that person would have received completely accurate information,” PTI quoted him as saying. “However, in order to avoid the slightest doubt in people’s minds, I decided to resign from my responsibilities in this way.”

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