Zubeen Garg Drowning: Intoxication, Declined Life Jacket Detailed in Singapore Court Testimony
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A singapore court revealed Wednesday that acclaimed Indian singer Zubeen Garg was “severely intoxicated” and tragically drowned off Lazarus Island after voluntarily declining a life jacket. Singapore police have stated they do not suspect foul play in the September 19th death, which occurred just before garg was scheduled to perform at the Northeast India Festival.
The circumstances surrounding garg’s death came to light during court proceedings,with investigators detailing a series of events that culminated in the tragic outcome. According to Channel News Asia, citing the investigating officer, witnesses observed Garg attempting to swim back to the yacht when he became unresponsive and began floating face down in the water.
Medical History and alcohol Consumption
The court heard that Garg had a pre-existing history of hypertension and epilepsy, with his most recent epileptic episode recorded in 2024. However,it remains unclear whether he had taken his prescribed medication on the day of the incident,as witness accounts could not confirm medication adherence.
Investigators uncovered that Garg and approximately 20 others aboard the yacht had been consuming alcohol and snacks during the outing. Multiple witnesses reported seeing Garg drinking, with one account suggesting he consumed several alcoholic beverages, including gin and whisky. A toxicology report revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 333 milligrams per 100 ml of blood – a level indicating severe intoxication that would have considerably impaired his coordination and reflexes.
Final Moments and Rescue Attempts
According to the chief investigating officer’s reconstruction, Garg initially swam with a life jacket but later removed it. After returning to the yacht, he reportedly told others he was feeling tired. When he decided to swim again, he was offered a smaller life jacket, but declined to wear it. He then entered the water alone, swimming towards Lazarus Island.
A post-mortem examination confirmed drowning as the cause of death. While some injuries were present, they were attributed to CPR and rescue attempts. Medical tests detected Garg’s prescribed medications for hypertension and epilepsy in his system, with no evidence of other drugs.
“The evidence of several witnesses…stated that Mr Garg had no suicidal tendencies and that he was not pushed into the water but had jumped in himself for a swim,” the news website report stated, quoting the court hearing.
Examination in Assam and ongoing Pursuit of Justice
While Singaporean authorities have ruled out foul play, a separate investigation is underway in Assam, India. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Assam Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have named several individuals as accused, including event organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma, suspended APS officer Sandipan Garg, and personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya.
On Wednesday, a court in Guwahati remanded the five accused – Mahanta, Sharma, Sandipan Garg, Bora, and Baishya – to judicial custody in connection with the case.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa sarma assured the public that justice will be served, stating, “Another step forward towards justice for our beloved zubeen. The Singapore Police authorities will meet the Assam Police team led by Sri Munna Gupta, ADGP and Head of SIT, on October 21st. Our collective resolve remains, Justice for Zubeen will prevail.”
