Zubeen Garg's manager, Siddharth Sharma, on Friday wrote an open letter online declaring his innocence, after his home was raided by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) earlier.
Sharma is now at the centre of a probe questioning whether foul play was involved in Garg's death. The Assamese sensation was cremated with full state honours earlier this week.
ALSO READ | Beyond entertainment: Zubeen Garg and spirituality of soulful music
"Over the last week I have been shocked and saddened by the rumours, abuse, and threats that have spread online and on television. Some have accused me of negligence that day; others claimed I was hiding money or building businesses in Zubeen da’s name. Some have even said that I will become the owner of Zubeen da’s copyrights," he wrote on Facebook.
"These allegations are entirely false. I have never misused his trust or his finances, and I am fully prepared to account for every rupee before the authorities and his family," he added.
Sharma further clarified that most of the 38,000 songs Garg recorded during his lifetime were owned entirely by music labels and production houses. As a result, he claimed that Garg never received royalties from them—just one-time payments of a few thousand rupees.
Sharma said that in 2021, Assam's "favourite rockstar" finally established the Zubeen Garg Music LLP, a record label in which he had a 60 per cent stake—and thus more opportunity to rightfully profit from his music.
Sharma added that 20 songs were recorded under the new label, and whatever profits it generated remained in the company account. He added it was his "duty" to ensure that the late singer's family inherited their share of that money.
As for royalties from the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) for Garg's work as a composer and lyricist, Sharma pointed out that it went directly into the singer's personal account, and would automatically pass on to Garg's wife, Garima.
"I have cooperated with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing his death and will continue to do so," Sharma said, urging the public to refrain from spreading misinformation.
