Probe into Zubeen’s death concluded: SPF

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has confirmed that investigations into the death of singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore on September 19, 2025, have concluded and there is no evidence of foul play.

In accordance with the Singapore Coroners Act 2010, the SPF investigated the case thoroughly and examined available evidence and recorded statements from all relevant witnesses, a statement issued on Wednesday read.

The statement was issued in response to media queries, said SPF, reminding members of the public to refrain from comments that impugn the integrity of the court’s judgement or the judicial process. SPF’s investigation has established that Garg was on a yacht trip in the waters off Lazarus Island. He had initially worn a life jacket while swimming but later removed it and returned to the yacht without the life jacket on him, the statement said.

When he entered the water the second time, he swam alone and away from the yacht without a life jacket, despite being offered one before entering the water. Subsequently, while swimming back towards the yacht, he was observed to have become unresponsive.

According to the statement, Garg was promptly rescued by the captain of the yacht and members of his group and brought back to the vessel, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation was immediately administered.

A Police Coast Guard boat was dispatched shortly after the emergency call, and officers arrived promptly to render assistance, it said, adding that Garg was attended to by paramedics upon reaching shore and was conveyed promptly by ambulance to Singapore General Hospital, where he subsequently passed away. 

Post-mortem findings, including toxicology analysis and autopsy results, were consistent with a case of death by drowning.

The toxicology analysis revealed a high concentration of ethanol in his blood sample, which would have caused severe intoxication, impaired coordination and reflexes in an individual not habituated to ethanol, the statement said, adding that other substances detected were within therapeutic ranges and consistent with his existing medical conditions of epilepsy and hypertension. The findings were submitted to the state coroner for the Coroner’s Inquiry (CI), which is a fact-finding process led to establish the cause and circumstances of death. The state coroner considered all evidence, including the SPF’s investigation findings, and ruled the death of Garg as an accidental drowning on March 25, 2026, with no evidence of foul play, consistent with what SPF had found through our investigations, according to the statement.

The coroner also found no evidence to suggest that Garg’s death was caused by an anaphylactic reaction to medications, substances, food, or drinks, SPF said.

The police also extended deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the Indian singer.