Two personal security officers (PSOs) of Assamese singer Zubeen Garg were arrested on Friday in connection with the ongoing investigation into his death in Singapore last month.
The officers, Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya, had been part of the Assam Police security team assigned to Zubeen after he received death threats from the banned militant group ULFA nearly a decade ago. Both men were suspended on 7 October following several rounds of questioning by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is probing the case.
The SIT uncovered large and unexplained financial transactions running through the officers’ bank accounts, over ₹1.1 crore in total. Bora’s account reportedly showed deposits of around ₹70 lakh, while Baishya’s reflected approximately ₹40 to ₹45 lakh. Investigators found these amounts to be far beyond the officers’ known sources of income. Police officials told NDTV that these transactions were made over the past four to five years and have raised serious questions about the nature of the PSOs’ involvement in Zubeen’s financial affairs.
Sources told NDTV that Zubeen had allegedly used the officers’ bank accounts to store and disburse funds, most of which were reportedly linked to his charitable initiatives. The late singer was widely known for his philanthropic work across Assam and had a reputation for supporting various social causes quietly and generously.
Confirming these reports, Zubeen’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, stated on Thursday that her husband had entrusted money to the officers for benevolent purposes. “Zubeen had given some money to the PSOs for the social work he does,” she said. “Investigations are going on. The PSOs have all the bank statements, and they also maintained a diary about various transactions.” However, she clarified that she was not involved in her husband's financial matters, saying, “I was not aware of Zubeen’s financial transactions.”
The arrest of Bora and Baishya brings the total number of individuals detained in connection with the case to seven. Previously arrested were Shyamkanu Mahanta, organiser of the North East India Festival in Singapore, Sandipan Garg, the singer’s cousin, his manager Siddhartha Sharma, musician Shekharjyoti Goswami, and singer Amritprava Mahanta. All of them are being questioned in relation to the events that led up to Zubeen’s death.
Zubeen Garg, 52, had travelled to Singapore in mid-September to take part in the North East India Festival. On 19 September, he reportedly drowned while swimming in the sea. His sudden death shocked millions across Assam and the wider northeastern region, where he was regarded not just as an artist, but as a cultural phenomenon whose influence spanned decades.
Since his death, Zubeen’s family has repeatedly called for transparency in the investigation. Both Garima Saikia Garg and Zubeen’s sister, Palme Borthakur, have questioned the handling of the events surrounding his final moments in Singapore.
