Zubeen Garg Drowned While Intoxicated: Singapore Police
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Guwahati
- Jan 14, 2026
- 573
Singapore police have ruled out foul play in the death of noted Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, stating that he died due to drowning while intoxicated. The findings were submitted to a Singapore court nearly five months after the incident.
According to the police report, Zubeen Garg had been consuming alcohol at a yacht party and refused to wear a life jacket before entering the water. Investigators concluded that his intoxicated state contributed to the drowning.
Zubeen Garg, 52, died on September 19, 2025, a day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival in Singapore. He had travelled to the country specifically for the event.
The Singapore police based their conclusions on statements from 35 witnesses, who provided minute-by-minute accounts of the events leading up to his death, including details of alcohol consumption and his decision to dive into the water. The report was revealed by international news outlet Channel News Asia.
However, the case has sparked controversy in India. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, speaking in the State Assembly on November 25, claimed that Zubeen Garg’s death was not accidental but a murder, and assured that those responsible would be brought to justice.
An Special Investigation Team (SIT) has since been formed in India to probe the case independently. Seven people have been arrested so far in connection with the investigation.
About Zubeen Garg
Born on November 18, 1972, in Tinsukia district of Assam, Zubeen Garg was a celebrated singer, composer, lyricist, actor, and director, known for his work in Assamese and Hindi cinema. He sang in multiple languages, including Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, and English.
Over his career, Zubeen recorded more than 38,000 songs in 40 languages and dialects, including Bodo, Karbi, Khasi, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, and several indigenous languages of the Northeast. He was regarded as Assam’s highest-paid singer.
Tragedy in the Family
Zubeen Garg’s younger sister, Jongki Barthakur, also a singer, died in a road accident 23 years ago at the age of 18. According to local media reports, the accident occurred on January 12, 2002, when her car collided with a truck in Assam’s Sonitpur district while she was travelling to attend her brother’s cultural programme.
Zubeen Garg was reportedly in the same car but had shifted to another vehicle minutes before the accident.