Singapore / Guwahati: Musician Zubeen Garg, who tragically passed away last month in Singapore, drowned while swimming off St John’s Island, and not during a scuba diving session as earlier media reports suggested.
According to The Straits Times, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) confirmed that a copy of the autopsy report, along with preliminary findings, has been shared with the High Commission of India in Singapore. The SPF had previously ruled out foul play in the death of the 52-year-old singer.
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“In the case of Zubeen Garg, a coroner’s inquiry could possibly shed light on the sequence of events leading up to his drowning,” said Ng Kai Ling, associate director at LIMN Law Corporation. She added that such an inquiry would establish the identity of the deceased and clarify how, when, and where the death occurred.
Garg was pulled from the waters off St John’s Island on September 19, unconscious, and rushed to Singapore General Hospital, where he was declared dead the same day. The hospital-issued death certificate listed the cause of death as drowning. Videos circulating online showed Garg jumping into the sea wearing a life vest, though reports later suggested he removed it before re-entering the water. The SPF has urged the public not to share any videos or images related to the incident.
The celebrated singer had been in Singapore to perform at events marking the 60th anniversary of India-Singapore diplomatic relations and the India-ASEAN Year of Tourism, including the North East India Festival, scheduled from September 19 to 21. The festival was subsequently cancelled following his death.
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In a major development, Assam Police on Wednesday arrested Zubeen’s manager Siddhartha Sharma and festival chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta from Delhi. The duo has been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence, according to senior police officials.
Investigations are ongoing in both Singapore and India to piece together the circumstances surrounding the death of one of Assam’s most beloved cultural icons.
