Breaking her silence for the first time since details of the death of Assam’s celebrated singer Zubeen Garg were presented in a Singapore court, his wife Garima Saikia Garg on Thursday issued a detailed public statement, emphasising that the family’s pursuit of truth has been lawful, persistent, and conducted across jurisdictions.

Her statement came a day after proceedings at the Singapore Coroner’s Court revealed that the 53-year-old singer drowned while swimming near Lazarus Island on 19 September 2025. The court was told that Garg had allegedly consumed alcohol and refused to wear a life jacket before entering the water, according to reports by The Straits Times.

In a lengthy Facebook post, Garima Garg said the family felt it necessary to provide verified facts to the people of Assam and relevant authorities “with transparency, dignity and respect for truth,” amid widespread public concern and unanswered questions surrounding the incident.

She described the family as being devastated and emotionally paralysed immediately following the tragedy, which delayed prompt legal action. However, after videos from the yacht surfaced on social media, raising doubts about the circumstances of Garg’s death, an FIR was filed to initiate a formal investigation.

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Garima Garg clarified that Singapore authorities had launched legal proceedings suo motu soon after the incident, with the Indian High Commission in Singapore coordinating medical and legal processes, including the post-mortem. She added that the family had deliberately refrained from making public statements during the investigation to protect its integrity.

Once her health permitted, an FIR was lodged with the Assam CID, leading to the formation of a Special Investigation Team. Following months of inquiry, the Assam Police submitted a charge sheet exceeding 2,500 pages, invoking sections related to murder.

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Referring to Wednesday’s coroner’s hearing, Garima Garg said the family had raised critical questions about the planning of the yacht trip, safety measures, Garg’s medical history, the response time, and the reasoning behind ruling out foul play.

Appealing to both the Central and Assam governments for close oversight, she said the family seeks only a full and transparent examination of the events leading to Zubeen Garg’s death, adding that the truth is owed not only to the family but also to the people of Assam.