Zubeen Garg death: Singapore police say singer was ‘severely intoxicated’ and declined life jacket

Fresh details have emerged in Singapore regarding the death of Assam singer Zubeen Garg. During a coroner’s inquiry on Wednesday, police testimony revealed that Garg was “severely intoxicated” and had refused to wear a life vest before drowning last September.

Assistant Superintendent of Police David Lim of the Police Coast Guard told the court that Garg had consumed alcohol prior to entering the sea during a yacht outing. Despite repeated advice to wear a life jacket, he reportedly refused. According to the testimony, Garg became motionless in the water while friends tried to persuade him to swim back to the yacht. ASP Lim added that witnesses did not notice any suicidal behaviour and confirmed that Garg was not coerced or under duress before entering the water.

The court was informed that an autopsy recorded 333 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood in Garg’s system, a level that would have significantly affected his coordination. By comparison, Singapore’s legal drink-driving limit is 80 mg per 100 ml, while in India, it is 30 mg per 100 ml under the Motor Vehicles Act.

Zubeen Garg was in Singapore as a cultural brand ambassador for the North East India Festival. Before the event began, he attended a yacht outing reportedly organised by members of the Assam Association Singapore. During the swim, he lost consciousness and was later pronounced dead at Singapore General Hospital. Singapore authorities officially listed the cause of death as drowning.

The coroner’s inquiry in Singapore is a fact-finding process aimed at determining the circumstances of Garg’s death. Meanwhile, a separate criminal case is ongoing in India. Assam Police have filed charges against five individuals in a Guwahati court—four for murder and one for culpable homicide—in connection with the singer’s death.

Zubeen Garg’s passing last year had sparked widespread grief across Assam and renewed calls for accountability. The Singapore inquiry is expected to hear testimony from 35 witnesses in total, with further testimonies scheduled in the coming days.

The inquiry and the ongoing legal proceedings in India continue to draw attention as authorities work to establish the facts surrounding the tragic incident.