The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has closed the investigation into the death of Assamese singer Zubin Garg, asserting that there is no evidence of foul play and that a high concentration of ethanol was found in his blood during post-mortem examinations. Garg was on a private yacht trip in the waters off Lazarus Island in Singapore on September 19 last year when he died.
“he [Garg] “He initially entered the water wearing a life jacket, but later removed it and returned to the yacht without it,” the SPF said in a statement on Wednesday, detailing the findings of the investigation conducted under Singapore’s Forensic Sciences Act 2010. She added that investigators examined all available evidence and recorded the statements of relevant witnesses before reaching conclusions.
“He then entered the water again and swam alone and away from the ship without a lifejacket, despite being offered one. As he attempted to swim back towards the yacht, he was observed becoming unresponsive,” the statement read.
The yacht’s captain and others on board rescued Garg and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, SPF said. A police boat was dispatched shortly after the emergency call, and officers immediately arrived to assist. Paramedics treated him upon his arrival at shore, and he was taken to Singapore General Hospital, where he died.
“Post-mortem findings, including toxicology analysis, were consistent with drowning. The toxicology report revealed a high concentration of ethanol of 333 mg/100 ml in his blood, a level that would have caused acute intoxication and significant impairment of coordination and reflexes in an individual unaccustomed to alcohol.”
She added that other substances discovered were within therapeutic ranges and consistent with Garg’s known medical conditions, including epilepsy and high blood pressure.
The findings were presented to the state coroner as part of a coroner’s inquest, a fact-finding process to determine the cause and circumstances of death. The coroner, after reviewing the evidence on March 25, ruled that Garg’s death was due to accidental drowning, with no evidence of foul play, in line with police findings.
The EPLF urged people to refrain from speculation and issued a detailed statement.
Garg traveled to Singapore to attend a cultural event and died on September 19, a day before it was scheduled to take place. The case related to Garg’s alleged murder is still ongoing in Assam. Seven people were arrested in the case.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the death as a “plain and simple murder” and ordered a parallel criminal investigation. A special investigation team traveled to investigate in Singapore in October last year to collect evidence. After nearly three months of investigation, the special court submitted a 1,200-page indictment in December.
The Guwahati High Court last month appointed District and Sessions Judge Sharmila Bhuiyan as the presiding judge of the Express Sessions Court for the day-to-day trial proceedings of the case from March 30.
