Singapore: Garg, 52, died on September 19, 2025, while attending a yacht party a day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival in Singapore.

According to evidence presented in court and reported by Channel News Asia, Garg was part of a yacht gathering involving around 20 people, including friends and colleagues, where alcohol was consumed. The chief investigating officer told the court that Garg initially wore a life jacket during his first swim but later removed it. When he decided to enter the water again, he declined a second, smaller life jacket offered to him and began swimming alone towards Lazarus Island.

Witnesses told the court that Garg was heavily intoxicated at the time, with several seeing him consume liquor including gin, whisky and stout. During his swim, he was seen going limp and floating face-down in the water. He was quickly pulled back onto the yacht, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered. However, he was pronounced dead later that same day.

An autopsy determined the cause of death to be drowning. While some injuries were found on his body, these were attributed to rescue and CPR efforts. Toxicology reports revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 333 milligrams per 100ml, more than four times Singapore’s legal limit of 80 milligrams—indicating severe intoxication and impaired coordination. Medications for hypertension and epilepsy were also detected in his blood, though it remains unclear whether he had taken his epilepsy medication on the day of the incident.

The court was told that Garg had a medical history of hypertension and epilepsy, with his last known epileptic episode occurring in 2024. A forensic pathologist testified that there were no clear signs, such as a bitten tongue, to confirm whether he had suffered a seizure at the time of the incident.

The yacht captain, giving evidence through a Mandarin interpreter, said Garg appeared unable to walk properly when boarding and that some passengers had been drinking even before the yacht set sail. He stated that safety briefings were conducted and that he had warned Garg’s friends that Garg should not enter the water without a life jacket due to his intoxicated state. The captain also described seeing foam coming from Garg’s mouth and nose when he was pulled from the water.

Singapore police have said they do not suspect any foul play. The court heard that multiple witnesses confirmed Garg had no suicidal tendencies and that he had entered the water of his own accord. A total of 35 witnesses, including yacht passengers, police officers and paramedics, are expected to testify as the inquiry continues.

Before proceedings began, Garg’s uncle, Manoj Kumar Borthakur, read a statement raising concerns over the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death. State Coroner Adam Nakhoda, however, noted that some of the questions raised were not directly relevant to the cause and circumstances of death under consideration.