Singapore’s inquiry found that exhaustion and refusal of a life jacket led to the tragic drowning of Zubeen Garg during a yacht outing. Meanwhile, a separate murder case continues in Assam.
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A tragic mystery that sparked debates, rumours, and emotional reactions has finally reached a major turning point. Months after the shocking death of Assam’s beloved singer, new findings from Singapore have brought clarity, but also deepened the contrast between two parallel investigations. (Also Read: ‘Zubeen Garg was intoxicated, refused life jacket’: Singapore court told ‘no foul play’ in singer’s death)
The coroner’s inquiry in Singapore has ruled that the death of Zubeen Garg in September 2025 was an accidental drowning, according to a report by The Straits Times. The decision comes after detailed examination of witness testimonies, video evidence, and official reports.
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Below is a clear breakdown of what happened, what the court said, and why the story is still not fully settled.
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Singapore State Coroner Adam Nakhoda delivered his findings on Wednesday, concluding that there was no foul play involved in Garg’s death. After reviewing all available evidence, he said there was no reason to disagree with the conclusions already reached by the Police Coast Guard.
According to the coroner, the chain of events suggested exhaustion, refusal of safety gear, and eventual loss of consciousness in the water. The ruling officially labels the incident as an accident, a conclusion that differs from allegations made in India.
Earlier, on January 14, Assistant Superintendent of Police David Lim testified before the court. He stated that Zubeen Garg had consumed alcohol before entering the water and had refused to wear a life vest despite advice.
Lim also clarified that witnesses did not observe any suicidal tendencies. He said there was no sign of duress, coercion, or pressure placed on the singer before he jumped into the sea.
On the same day, the yacht captain’s assistant also testified that nobody forced Garg to drink or swim. The group had reportedly been briefed clearly to wear life jackets before entering the water, but Garg chose not to follow the advice.
Garg was in Singapore as a cultural brand ambassador for the North East India Festival. Before the event began, he joined a yacht outing reportedly organised by members of the Assam Association Singapore.
During the swim, Garg lost consciousness. He was later taken to Singapore General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The death certificate issued by Singapore authorities listed drowning as the cause.
The coroner’s report noted that Garg appeared exhausted even before his last swim. He had first jumped into the water wearing a life jacket, but removed it because he found it too big.
After a short swim, he returned to the yacht looking tired. The coroner observed that Garg needed assistance to climb back onto the boat.
“It was apparent he was already exhausted by the short swim,” the coroner was quoted as saying. “He was unable to get onto the yacht himself and required assistance.”
Despite this, Garg later decided to go for another swim.
Before entering the water again, another person reportedly handed Zubeen Garg a smaller life jacket. However, he refused to wear it.
The coroner noted that the man tried to convince him, but Garg remained firm in his decision. Video evidence reviewed during the inquiry showed that his swimming style appeared weak and tired.
The coroner described his strokes as similar to “doggy paddling,” often seen when someone is fatigued. The movement suggested he was struggling and losing energy.
After some time, Garg turned back toward the yacht. But he began swimming more slowly. The coroner concluded that he likely lost consciousness while returning.
Other swimmers nearby quickly noticed something was wrong. They rushed to help him and tried to assist him back toward the boat.
The report said they did everything “to the best of their abilities” in the circumstances.
Another key point in the ruling was the timeline of rescue efforts. The coroner stated there was no evidence of delay in providing first aid. He also confirmed that there was no delay in bringing Garg back to the mainland for medical treatment.
This finding addressed speculation that emergency response might have been slow.
Even as Singapore’s inquiry ruled accidental drowning, a separate investigation in India is ongoing. The Assam Police have charged four people with murder, claiming that Garg was made to drink heavily and encouraged to swim.
That case is currently being heard in a sessions court in Guwahati. Authorities have also announced a special fast-track court to conduct the trial on a day-to-day basis.
This means two parallel narratives now exist; one calling the death accidental, the other treating it as a criminal case.
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