Zubeen Garg Died of Accidental Drowning: Singapore Coroner

By Nava Thakuria, New Age Islam

25 March 2026

Guwahati: Even though Assam police have arrested seven individuals suspecting their roles in the suspected murder of musical icon Zubeen Garg in Singapore on 19 September last year, a coroner’s court in the island nation ruled it as an accidental drowning. The city-state’s mainstream newspaper (https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/death-of-indian-singer-zubeen-garg-last-year-in-spore-ruled-accidental-drowning-by-state-coroner?ref=top-stories reported that the coroner’s inquiry into the death of Zubeen, who was found floating face down after a swim off Lazarus Island in 2025, has been ruled an accidental drowning.

“Delivering his findings on March 25, State Coroner Adam Nakhoda said there was no reason to disagree with the Police Coast Guard’s investigation conclusion after analysing the evidence before him. A death certificate issued by the Singapore General Hospital listed the cause of death as drowning,” stated the report, adding that the popular singer ‘had consumed alcohol and refused a life vest before jumping off a yacht on Sept 19, 2025, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) David Lim testified on the first day of the inquiry on Jan 14’.

While his friends tried to convince Zubeen to return to the yacht, he became motionless. He was pulled back onto the yacht, where efforts were made to resuscitate him, but to no avail, said the report, adding that the captain of the vessel (who also testified on 14 January) informed the court that Zubeen and about 15 others boarded the yacht at Marina at Keppel Bay at around 2 pm.

“The captain testified that he saw several passengers, including Mr Garg drinking alcohol before boarding. He (captain) said the singer was so unsteady, his friends had to hold onto his arms as he boarded the vessel. While on the vessel, he walked unsteadily and needed help moving around. The captain’s assistant told the court in January that no one had forced Mr Garg to consume alcohol or enter the water,” reported the newspaper, adding that the singer and his entourage were informed on the yacht about the necessity of wearing life jackets before going for a swim.

At about 2.30pm, the group arrived near Lazarus Island. Zubeen initially put on a life jacket and jumped off the yacht. He later removed it while in the water, as he found it was too big for him. When he returned to the yacht, he had to be helped on board as he was breathing heavily. “It was apparent he (Zubeen) was already exhausted by the short swim. I find the exhaustion was apparent by the fact he was unable to get onto the yacht himself and required assistance,” pointed out the coroner.

Later, he decided to join another man for a second swim towards Lazarus Island. Before Zubeen resumed swimming, he was handed a smaller life jacket but refused to wear it. The coroner said the man who handed Zubeen the life jacket had made commendable efforts to try to put the life jacket on him, even holding on to Zubeen’s arm while waiting for the smaller life jacket to be passed over.

“Ultimately, his efforts were to no avail. Mr Garg steadfastly refused to wear nor (did he) allow the man to put the life jacket on him,” said the coroner. Zubeen started to swim towards Lazarus Island alone, before four others swam after him after noticing he had not put on a life jacket. “Having reviewed video evidence, his swim strokes appeared to be more akin to doggy paddling. It resembled the swim stroke of a person who was tired or fatigued,” the coroner added.

Zubeen likely lost consciousness, and his face became submerged in the water. When the other swimmers noticed, they immediately swam towards him and supported Zubeen by lifting his head up and out of the water. “I found the swimmers in the sea had assisted Mr Garg to the best of their abilities. There was no evidence to suggest his face had been deliberately held underwater,” asserted the coroner, adding that there was also no evidence of any delay of administration of first aid (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), nor delay in getting Zubeen back to the mainland to convey him to a hospital.

The newspaper report compiled by Andrew Wong and Claudia Tan also added that Zubeen’s death caused an uproar in Assam, where fans stormed the home of his manager, Siddhartha Sharma, in Guwahati. The protest turned violent, and clashes broke out with the police. Following his death, an investigation team in his home country charged multiple people, including the organiser of NE Festival, Shyamkanu Mahanta, with murder. Three other associates of the singer – Siddhartha, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta – were also charged with the offence in India.

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