Zubeen Garg was very drunk, had declined life jacket: Singapore cops to court

Singapore police told a coroner’s court on Wednesday that Indian singer-songwriter Zubeen Garg was severely intoxicated when he drowned off Lazarus Island last September after entering the sea without a life jacket, with investigators ruling out any foul play.

Garg, 52, died on September 19, 2025, while attending a private yacht gathering, a day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival in Singapore.

Presenting the case, the chief investigating officer said Garg was among more than 20 people, including friends and colleagues, on board a yacht where alcohol was consumed.

According to the officer, Garg initially entered the water wearing a life jacket but later removed it. When he decided to



swim again, he was offered a second, smaller life jacket, which he declined.

“He entered the water without a life jacket and started swimming alone in the direction of Lazarus Island,” the officer told the court, as reported by Channel News Asia.

Several witnesses told investigators they saw Garg attempting to swim back to the yacht before going limp and floating face-down in the water. He was pulled back onto the yacht, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered. Garg was pronounced dead later the same day.

An autopsy determined the cause of death to be drowning. Injuries found on Garg’s body were attributed to rescue and CPR efforts. Police said there was no indication of foul play.