Assam: Coroner’s inquiry into Zubeen Garg’s death to start in Singapore next month

Guwahati: A Singapore court will begin a coroner’s inquiry on January 14, 2026, into the death of renowned Assamese singer-songwriter Zubeen Garg, local media reported.

The inquiry will take place at the State Courts and will examine the circumstances leading to Garg’s death. Singapore Police have said they will submit their investigation findings to the State Coroner ahead of the hearing.

Garg died on September 19, 2025, a day before he was due to perform at a cultural festival in Singapore. Police said he encountered distress while swimming in the sea off an island coast. An alert was raised from St John’s Island, following which he was found unconscious and taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Police have earlier stated that investigations are ongoing and that the coroner’s inquiry has been scheduled across January and February 2026. Preliminary findings, they said, indicate no suspicion of foul play.

Under Singapore law, a coroner’s inquiry is a judicial fact-finding process to establish how, when and where a death occurred. The proceedings do not determine criminal liability and are typically conducted in open court unless ordered otherwise. Hearings may span multiple days depending on the complexity of the case.

The coroner will issue formal findings at the conclusion of the inquiry.

Garg, one of Assam’s most prominent cultural icons, commanded a massive following across the Northeast and elsewhere. His death had triggered widespread grief and tributes across the region.