SINGAPORE: A coroner’s inquiry into the passing of renowned Indian singer-songwriter Zubeen Garg is set to begin in Singapore on January 14, 2026, according to court records.
The hearing will take place at the State Courts, with police confirming that their investigation reports will be submitted to State Coroner Adam Nakhoda for the inquest.
Mr. Garg, 52, passed away in Singapore on September 19, just a day before he was scheduled to perform at a cultural festival.
Singapore police have said they received an emergency call for assistance at St. John’s Island on the same day. Mr. Garg was found unconscious and rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Reports from multiple news outlets indicated that he had gone scuba diving and faced breathing problems. The chief minister of Assam, his home state in India, stated that drowning was the cause of death.
Earlier in December, Singapore police noted that Mr. Garg’s death was still under investigation and confirmed that a coroner’s inquiry was planned for January and February 2026.
Authorities have emphasized that, based on current findings, there is no suspicion of foul play in his death and have urged the public to avoid speculation.
This comes after Indian media reports claimed that four individuals had been charged with murder in Assam in connection with his death, and that a special investigation team had been tasked with probing the matter.
A coroner’s inquiry is a judicial fact-finding process conducted by a coroner to determine the how, when, and where of a person’s death. Under the Coroners Act, the coroner does not assign criminal liability during the inquiry.
These inquiries are generally held in open court unless there is a compelling reason to hold them privately. They can conclude in a single day or span several days. At the end, the coroner provides findings on the circumstances surrounding the death.
Mr. Garg’s passing sparked widespread grief among fans in India, with tributes pouring in from notable figures including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and music composer AR Rahman.
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