Guwahati, Feb 4: Seven witnesses who deposed at the second hearing of the Singapore Coroner’s Court inquiry into the death of Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg told the court that the singer did not smell of alcohol when he arrived at Capo Bay Marina on the day of the incident, contradicting earlier police testimony presented during the first hearing.
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| Zubeen Garg (Image Courtesy: facebook.com/ZUBEENsOFFICIAL) |
According to a report aired by Singapore-based broadcaster Channel News Asia, six of the seven witnesses who gave in-person statements on February 3 were on board the yacht with Garg on September 19, 2025, the day he drowned. While their testimonies broadly corroborated the sequence of events leading to his fatal swim, there were differing accounts on whether Garg had consumed alcohol before boarding the vessel.
One witness stated that Garg “did not appear intoxicated” and was only taking small sips of a drink. Another witness told the court that an order for whisky had been placed at a bar prior to boarding the yacht, but said they could not confirm whether Garg had consumed it. Only one witness claimed that the artiste appeared tipsy when he boarded.
Video footage shown during the hearing reportedly depicted Garg entering the sea for the first time wearing a life jacket. Some witnesses noted that the jacket appeared oversized and said Garg later removed it while in the water.
After swimming, Garg returned to a kayak near the yacht and was described by several witnesses as looking tired. A witness who had organised the gathering testified that he attempted to put a life jacket on Garg before his second swim, but the singer refused, reportedly saying, “I have never worn it before. I don’t like it.”
Witnesses further stated that Garg then swam rapidly towards the shore, prompting several others to follow him. He was also said to have repeatedly told those on board that he had taught two members of the group how to swim.
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Garg’s uncle, Manoj Borthakur, and nephew, Rahul Gautam Sharma, were present at the February 3 hearing. The inquiry is continuing, with further evidence expected to be presented.
The testimonies at the second hearing stand in contrast to evidence given earlier by investigators. Singapore Police had previously informed the Coroner’s Court that toxicology analysis showed Garg’s blood alcohol level was far above the country’s legal limit at the time he entered the water. During the first hearing on January 14, Assistant Superintendent of Police David Lim of the Police Coast Guard told the court that the 53-year-old artiste was severely intoxicated and had repeatedly refused to wear a life vest before entering the sea.
Meanwhile, Garg’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, visited Peerless Hospital on Wednesday, coinciding with the couple’s marriage anniversary. Doctors said she was feeling weak but did not require admission. Hospital officials noted that the couple had previously been involved in philanthropic activities, including organising free health check-ups for elderly persons, and that Garima’s visit followed the same practice. Doctors added that she has suffered a major personal loss and would need time to recover emotionally.
