Singapore court shocker: Zubeen Garg refused life jacket before drowning

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): A Singapore coroner's court on Wednesday revealed shocking details regarding the death of renowned Indian singer and songwriter Zubeen Garg. Investigating officers told the court that Zubeen Garg was heavily intoxicated and refused to wear a life jacket before drowning near Lazarus Island last September. The 52-year-old singer was attending a yacht party on September 19, 2025, where the accident occurred. He was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival in Singapore the following day.

The accident occurred after the life jacket was removed.

According to a Channel News Asia report, the chief investigating officer told the court that the singer initially wore a life jacket, but took it off shortly afterward. When he was offered a second jacket, he refused to wear it. The officer quoted witnesses as saying that Garg was in an intoxicated state at the time. Several people saw him trying to swim toward the yacht, but he suddenly lost consciousness and his face was submerged in the water.

Suspense over epilepsy and medicine

He was brought back to the yacht immediately after the accident and given CPR, but his life could not be saved and he was declared dead the same day. The court was also told that the singer had a chronic condition of hypertension and epilepsy and his last seizure was in 2024. However, it is not clear whether he had taken his regular medication on the day of the incident or not, as eyewitness accounts were not sufficient to prove this. Singapore police have ruled out any possibility of foul play or foul play in their report.

Witnesses said many types of alcohol were consumed.

A total of 35 witnesses have been called for the investigation, including people on the yacht, the boat captain, police officers, and paramedics. The investigating officer stated that around 20 people, including Zubeen Garg, were present at the party and consumed snacks and alcohol. Several witnesses confirmed that the singer had consumed a lot of alcohol. According to one witness, he consumed wine, gin, whiskey, and Guinness stout.