Bollywood singer Zubeen Garg was 'severely intoxicated' & refused life vest before drowning: Coroner's court

Police investigators revealed that Bollywood singer Zubeen Garg, who drowned in Singapore on Sep. 19, 2025, was "severely intoxicated" at the time of death.

The 53-year-old drank alcohol and refused a life vest before leaping off the yacht, stated Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) David Lim, who was the first witness testifying at a coroner's inquiry into the singer's death.

Garg, who died near Lazarus Island, had 333 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood in his system, enough to impair coordination, reported The Straits Times.

The current drink driving limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

No suicidal tendencies

Garg, a prominent musician from Assam in India, was in Singapore for the North East India Festival organised by the local Assamese community.

The singer and other individuals in his entourage boarded the yacht at Marina at Keppel Bay around 2pm on Sep. 19, 2025.

They were told to don life jackets before swimming.

ASP Lim, who is attached to the Police Coast Guard, stated that witnesses noted that Garg had no suicidal tendencies and was not subjected to duress or coercion before his death, reported ST.

“He did not wear a life jacket, despite repeated reminders by the yacht captain to wear one.”

Jumped in for a swim twice

At around 3pm, the yacht got close to Lazarus Island, and Garg wore a life jacket, leaping into the water.

However, the jacket was too big, and he removed it, stated ASP Lim.

According to ST, Garg returned to the yacht, breathing heavily.

“The deceased then decided to resume swimming, and a smaller life jacket was placed over his shoulders, but he refused to wear it.”

Garg swam towards Lazarus Island without the jacket as his friends tried to persuade him to return to the yacht.

However, he suddenly "became motionless and started floating face down".

ASP Lim said that Garg was pulled back to the yacht, and his friends attempted to resuscitate him.

Police Coast Guard boat dispatched in less than 10 minutes

According to ST, an emergency call was made at 3:36pm, and a boat was dispatched within 10 minutes.

Garg was later pronounced dead at Singapore General Hospital on the same day at 5:13pm, and the cause of death was drowning.

After his death, Indian investigators charged four people with murder, including the organiser of the festival in Singapore, Shyamkanu Mahanta.

The coroner's inquiry was attended by Garg's uncle and nephew, and several members of the public, stated ST.

There are 35 witnesses in total, with seven slated to take the stand on Jan 14, said State Counsel Sean Teh.

The hearing is still ongoing.

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Top photo from Zubeen Garg/Facebook.