Written by Sukrita BaruahGuwahati | October 9, 2025 07:38 AM IST 3 min readRiniki Bhuyan Sarma, businesswoman and wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has filed a criminal defamation case against Raijor Dol leader and MLA Akhil Gogoi for alleging that one of her companies had organised a fashion event at the North East India Festival in Singapore after singer Zubeen Garg’s death.This comes against the backdrop of the superstar singer’s death snowballing into a political issue in the election-bound state, with allegations flying thick and fast between different political leaders amidst heightened public emotions.In the midst of public outrage over the singer’s sudden death while he was in Singapore for the North East India Festival and the slogan “Justice for Zubeen” gaining momentum, people associated with Shyamkanu Mahanta, the festival organiser who has been arrested, have become subjects of public scrutiny and outrage.Gogoi, who is the Sivasagar MLA, had claimed that Golden Threads of Assam, an enterprise under Riniki Bhuyan Sarma’s company Pride East Entertainments Private Limited, organised a fashion event at the festival after Zubeen’s death and after the organisers called off the festival.“On September 30, Raijor Dol president Akhil Gogoi made a statement demanding an investigation into Zubeen Garg’s death. There, he raised several allegations against my client, which are totally defamatory and derogatory. Because of this, we have filed a criminal defamation case against Akhil Gogoi… Riniki Bhuyan Sarma and her organisation, Golden Threads, have no relation at all to the North East Festival and had no participation in the event in Singapore… In the future, we will move against anyone who makes such statements on social media. We have also been given instructions to file cases against Lurinjyoti Gogoi and others,” said Bhuyan Sarma’s lawyer Kishore Dutta, referring to another opposition leader, Lurinjyoti Gogoi of the Asom Jatiya Parishad.The first hearing for the case has been listed for October 30.Riniki Bhuyan Sarma herself took to social media, taking a swipe at Akhil Gogoi. Referring to Zubeen Garg, she wrote, “Today, in these difficult times, I prefer not to involve the name of someone I deeply admire and who has been a vital part of my journey as an entrepreneur. He has contributed to the success of News Live through his music and support from the early days of its establishment, which continues today. It is truly disheartening to associate a legendary figure in political gaming, especially when we all need to come together and fight for justice instead of engaging in mudslinging. Through my organisation, PEEPL, I am offering assistance to Akhil Gogoi by providing a first-class ticket to Singapore, accommodation in a five-star hotel, and covering logistical expenses for gathering evidence to support his claims. Once he completes his fact-finding mission, we will meet in court on October 30, 2025, for the first hearing. Let’s ensure that justice prevails.”Story continues below this adIn response, Gogoi said, “This means that apart from praising the government, we cannot say anything about it. No questions can be raised. Nobody can stop me from demanding an investigation into Zubeen Garg’s death.”Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Himanta Biswa SarmaZubeen Garg