Zubeen Garg Was ‘Severely Intoxicated’, Says Singapore Police To Court

In a significant development on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, a Singapore coroner’s court heard startling testimonies regarding the death of Assamese music legend Zubeen Garg. According to the Singapore Police, the 52-year-old singer was “severely intoxicated” and repeatedly declined to wear a life jacket before drowning during a yacht outing near Lazarus Island in September 2025.

The inquiry, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) David Lim, revealed that Garg had a blood alcohol concentration of 333 mg per 100 ml—over four times Singapore’s legal drink-driving limit of 80 mg.

Timeline of the Tragic Yacht Outing (Sept 19, 2025)

• 2:00 PM: Garg and approximately 20 friends and colleagues board a yacht at Marina at Keppel Bay. The group consumes snacks, gin, whisky, and Guinness Stout.
• 3:00 PM: Near Lazarus Island, Garg initially wears a life jacket and jumps in for a swim. However, he finds it “too big” and removes it.
• The Refusal: Upon returning to the boat, he is offered a smaller, better-fitting vest for a second swim but refuses it.
• 3:36 PM: Garg jumps in again and swims toward the island alone. Witnesses see him go limp and float face-down.
• The Rescue: Friends pull him back onto the yacht and attempt CPR. An emergency boat arrives within 10 minutes.
• 5:13 PM: Garg is pronounced dead at Singapore General Hospital.

Comparison: Drink Driving Limits

Parallel Realities: Accidental Drowning vs. Murder

While Singapore authorities have stated they “do not suspect foul play,” the legal landscape in India tells a different story. The Assam Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has treated the case as a potential conspiracy.

Status of the Case in India (Guwahati CJM Court):

• The Charges: A 300-page charge sheet names seven individuals.
• Prime Accused (Murder/Conspiracy): Shyamkanu Mahanta (Festival Organizer), Siddharth Sharma (Manager), Shekhar Jyoti Goswami (Bandmate), and Amritprava Mahanta (Co-singer).
• Culpable Homicide: Sandipan Garg (Zubeen’s cousin).
• Criminal Breach of Trust: Two Personal Security Officers (PSOs).
• Trial Update: The trial began in late December 2025. During a hearing on January 11, 2026, the prosecution requested more time to examine the 3,000 supporting documents; the next hearing is scheduled for January 17.

Medical History & Findings

The Singapore court was also informed of Garg’s history of hypertension and epilepsy (last episode in 2024). While traces of his prescribed medication were found in his system, investigators stated that the extreme level of intoxication would have significantly impaired his coordination and reflexes, making a seizure or fatigue in the water more likely.

Zubeen Garg’s Legacy

Garg was in Singapore as a Cultural Ambassador for the North East India Festival. His sudden death triggered massive protests and grief across Assam, where he is worshipped not just as a singer of 38,000 songs, but as a revolutionary cultural figure.