Guwahati: The family of Assam’s celebrated cultural icon Zubeen Garg, who died in a drowning incident in Singapore last September, has appealed to the Union government and the Assam government to take active diplomatic and legal steps to ensure that all relevant facts surrounding his death are placed before the Singapore coroner’s court. The appeal was made through a detailed Facebook post issued on Thursday, reflecting the family’s continuing concerns over the circumstances of his death and the differing conclusions emerging from investigations in Singapore and India.

The family’s statement came a day after Singapore police informed the coroner’s court that there was no foul play involved in the incident. According to the police submission, Zubeen was allegedly inebriated at the time of the incident and had refused to wear a life jacket before entering the sea for a swim. This account has caused distress among family members, who have maintained that several aspects of the incident remain unclear and require closer scrutiny.

In the Facebook post, Zubeen’s wife Garrima Saikia Garg, his sister Palmee Borthakur, and his paternal uncle Manoj Borthakur jointly urged authorities in India to closely monitor the legal proceedings in Singapore. They called for coordinated action to prevent jurisdictional complexities from delaying or diluting accountability.

“We respectfully urge the Government of India and the Government of Assam to monitor the proceedings in the Singapore Coroner’s Court at the highest level, take all necessary diplomatic and legal steps to ensure that every relevant fact is placed before the court, pursue expeditious and effective prosecution in India on the basis of the charge sheet already filed, and ensure that neither jurisdiction becomes an excuse for delay or dilution,” the family said in the post.

Zubeen Garg, 52, was a towering figure in Assamese music and culture, with a career spanning decades as a singer, songwriter, composer and actor. He died on September 19, 2025, while swimming in the sea in Singapore, where he had travelled to participate in the North East India Festival (NEIF). News of his death triggered widespread grief across Assam and the Northeast, with fans and political leaders alike demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

In response to public outrage and the family’s concerns, the Assam government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. The SIT’s investigation led to the arrest of seven individuals, including the festival organiser, Zubeen’s manager, two band members, his cousin—who is also a serving police officer—and two security personnel assigned to him during the Singapore trip.

The SIT filed a chargesheet in December, making serious allegations. According to the chargesheet, five individuals—the festival organiser, Zubeen’s manager, his cousin, and two bandmates—were accused of conspiring to murder the artist. The two security officials were charged separately in connection with alleged financial irregularities. The case is currently being tried in a court in Guwahati.

The family’s Facebook post also revealed that Manoj Borthakur submitted a detailed statement before the Singapore coroner’s court on Wednesday. The statement reportedly raised several “specific factual questions” that, according to the family, must be examined to arrive at the truth.

These questions relate to the planning of the September 19 outing, Zubeen’s physical and medical condition at the time, the safety arrangements on the yacht, the circumstances under which he entered the sea, and the words spoken in those moments. The family also questioned the response of those present on the yacht when Zubeen reportedly showed visible signs of distress, pointing to what they described as negligence captured in videos circulating on social media.

Further concerns highlighted in the statement include the timing and adequacy of medical assistance provided after the incident and the scope and basis of the Singapore police’s finding of “no foul play.” The family said these issues were not speculative but arose naturally when a life ends suddenly under unclear circumstances.

“These questions arise automatically and they are a family’s right and duty when a life ends suddenly under unclear circumstances,” the post said. Emphasising that their demand was not driven by animosity, the family underlined that they were seeking a transparent, detailed and fair examination of all circumstances so that “the guilty is punished to the highest level.”

The developments have also triggered political reactions in Assam and at the national level. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, responding to media queries on Thursday, noted that the proceedings in Singapore and the criminal case in Assam were separate and governed by different legal systems.

“The Singapore police gave a report and court proceedings are taking place there. Their process is different from what is happening here. I won’t like to comment more on this as it is a court matter,” Sarma said.

However, the apparent divergence between the conclusions drawn by Singapore authorities and the allegations made by the Assam SIT has raised uncomfortable questions. Lok Sabha MP and Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi highlighted the contradiction, asking how the same incident could be viewed so differently by two jurisdictions that have reportedly cooperated during the investigation.

“Authorities in Singapore say Zubeen died due to drowning and there was no foul play, while in Assam the matter is being treated as a case of murder. Whom should we believe?” Gogoi asked reporters in Delhi. He pointed out that both governments had held discussions on the matter and that there had been collaboration between Singapore police and their counterparts in Assam.

“How is it that one is saying something and the other is saying something else?” Gogoi said, adding that it was unfortunate that several months after Zubeen Garg’s death, clarity on the truth was still elusive.

As legal proceedings continue simultaneously in Singapore and India, Zubeen Garg’s family remains steadfast in its demand for accountability and transparency. Their appeal reflects not only personal grief but also the deep emotional connection the artist shared with millions of admirers, for whom his death remains an unresolved and painful chapter.