Zubeen Garg ‘severely intoxicated’, drowned after refusing life jacket: Singapore Court
Singapore: A coroner’s court was informed Wednesday that popular Indian singer-songwriter Zubeen Garg was "severely intoxicated" and drowned off Lazarus Island last September after repeatedly refusing to wear a life jacket.
The inquiry into the death of the 52-year-old artist, which occurred on Sept. 19, 2025, just one day before he was scheduled to headline the North East India Festival in Singapore, opened with testimony from the chief investigating officer detailing a series of safety lapses.
"Severely Intoxicated"
The court heard that a toxicology analysis revealed Garg had a blood alcohol concentration of 333 milligrams per 100ml, more than four times Singapore’s legal driving limit of 80mg. Investigators also recovered a 750ml bottle of Scotch whisky from his hotel room that was only 25% full.
According to witness statements, Garg had been consuming a mixture of gin, whisky, and stout during a party aboard a yacht named the Crazy Monkey. The vessel’s captain testified that Garg was so impaired upon boarding that two friends had to hold his arms to help him walk.
Sequence of the Drowning
The investigating officer provided a step-by-step account of the incident:
- Initial Swim: Garg entered the water wearing a life jacket but removed it, claiming it was too large and that he felt tired.
- Refusal of Safety Gear: When he decided to swim a second time toward Lazarus Island, he was offered a smaller life jacket but declined to wear it.
- The Incident: Witnesses saw Garg swimming alone before he suddenly went limp and began floating face down.
- Rescue Attempt: The yacht captain and friends pulled him from the water and administered CPR. Despite their efforts and an emergency response within 10 minutes, he was pronounced dead at Singapore General Hospital at 5:13 p.m.
Medical and Forensic Findings
The autopsy confirmed the cause of death was drowning. While Garg had a history of hypertension and epilepsy, a forensic pathologist testified that they could not confirm if a seizure had preceded the drowning, noting an absence of typical signs like a bitten tongue.
Singapore police stated they do not suspect foul play, and witness testimony indicated Garg had no suicidal tendencies.
Legal Battle in India
While Singaporean authorities view the death as an accidental drowning, the case has taken a far more serious turn in India. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Assam has charged seven individuals in connection with the death.
Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s secretary Siddhartha Sharma, and two band members—Shekharjyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta- have been charged with murder. The singer’s cousin, Sandipan Garg, faces a charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, while two personal security officers have been charged with criminal conspiracy.
Garg’s uncle, Manoj Kumar Borthakur, attended the Singapore hearing and raised several concerns regarding the timeline of events. The inquiry is expected to hear from a total of 35 witnesses.
With inputs from PTI