Fresh details surrounding the death of acclaimed Assamese singer Zubeen Garg have emerged in a Singapore court, with investigators stating that the 52-year-old artiste was “severely intoxicated” and had declined to wear a life jacket shortly before he drowned off Lazarus Island in September last year. The revelations were made during a court hearing on Wednesday, more than four months after Garg’s death, which occurred a day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival in Singapore.

According to testimony presented by the chief investigating officer, Garg had initially worn a life jacket while on a yacht near Lazarus Island but later removed it. When another life jacket was offered to him subsequently, he allegedly refused to put it on. The court was told that multiple witnesses observed the singer attempting to swim back to the yacht before he suddenly went limp and began floating face-down in the water.

The account was reported by Channel News Asia, which cited court proceedings detailing the final moments leading up to Garg’s death. The investigating officer told the court that Garg was rescued promptly by those on board the yacht and pulled back onto the vessel, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered. Despite these efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

Singapore police have reiterated that there was no indication of foul play based on their investigation, according to a report by PTI. The court was informed that Garg had a known medical history, including hypertension and epilepsy, with his last recorded epileptic episode occurring in 2024. Investigators did not suggest that a medical episode was conclusively responsible for the incident but said the information formed part of the overall assessment.

The hearing also shed light on the circumstances aboard the yacht that day. The investigating officer told the court that Garg was among more than 20 people on the vessel, including friends and colleagues. The group had reportedly brought snacks, drinks and alcohol onto the yacht. Witnesses said Garg was seen consuming alcohol during the outing.

According to the testimony, one witness stated that the singer had consumed several cups of liquor, including gin and whisky, as well as a few sips of Guinness Stout. Based on witness statements and available evidence, investigators concluded that Garg was “severely intoxicated” at the time of the incident.

Zubeen Garg’s death sent shockwaves across Assam and the wider North East, where he was regarded as a cultural icon. A prolific singer, composer and filmmaker, Garg enjoyed a career spanning decades and was revered for his contributions to Assamese music and cinema, as well as his outspoken public persona. His sudden death overseas sparked widespread grief and also triggered competing narratives around the circumstances that led to it.

While Singapore authorities have maintained that there was no criminal element involved, the case has taken a dramatically different turn in India, particularly in Assam, where the state government has alleged a conspiracy behind the singer’s death.

The Singapore court hearing comes just weeks after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Assam Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) filed a chargesheet in the case on December 12. According to officials, the chargesheet itself runs to around 2,500 pages, and when combined with supporting documents and evidence, the total volume of case material extends to nearly 12,000 pages.

The Assam government, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has repeatedly claimed that Garg was murdered and that his death was not accidental. In a major escalation, Assam Police have arrested seven people in connection with the case and charged four of them with murder. Those arrested include the festival organiser, Garg’s secretary, members of his band, his cousin and two of his personal security officers (PSOs).

The state government has asserted that its investigation uncovered inconsistencies and suspicious circumstances that warranted a criminal probe, even as Singapore police have ruled out foul play. This divergence has raised complex legal and diplomatic questions, as the death occurred on foreign soil and is subject to Singaporean jurisdiction, while criminal proceedings have been initiated in India based on the Assam police’s findings.

To strengthen its legal case, the Assam government has also approved the appointment of a five-member team of special public prosecutors to pursue the matter in court. Announcing the decision earlier, Chief Minister Sarma said the government was committed to expediting the trial and ensuring that those responsible were held accountable.

“A team of special public prosecutors will take forward the legal battle,” Sarma said in a statement. “Senior advocate Ziaul Kamar will be the special public prosecutor. Brojendra Mohan Choudhury will be the additional public prosecutor, and Kishore Dutta, Pranjal Dutta and Bikash Jamar will be the assistant public prosecutors.”

The contrasting narratives emerging from Singapore and Assam have kept the case firmly in the public eye. While the Singapore investigation has focused on the immediate circumstances of the drowning — intoxication, refusal to wear a life jacket and an apparent accident at sea — the Assam police probe has framed the incident as a premeditated act involving people close to the singer.

Family members and supporters of Garg have expressed hope that the truth will ultimately emerge, even as legal experts note the challenges involved in reconciling findings from two different jurisdictions. Questions have also been raised about the admissibility and weight of evidence collected in Singapore in Indian courts, and vice versa.

For many fans, the court proceedings have reopened painful memories of Garg’s death and underscored the uncertainty that still surrounds it. His planned performance at the North East India Festival was meant to celebrate the region’s culture on an international stage, making the tragedy all the more poignant.

As the Singapore court continues to hear evidence related to the circumstances of Garg’s drowning, and the Assam judiciary prepares to take up the voluminous chargesheet filed by the SIT, the case remains far from closure. Whether the death will ultimately be officially recorded as a tragic accident or a criminal act is likely to be determined by parallel legal processes unfolding in two countries.

What is clear, however, is that Zubeen Garg’s death has transcended the loss of a celebrated musician. It has become a complex legal and political case, drawing in international investigations, state-level conspiracy claims and intense public scrutiny — ensuring that even months later, the questions surrounding his final hours continue to resonate deeply in Assam and beyond.