Poonam Nath

Zubeen's autopsy report and findings shared with the Indian High Commission by Singapore Police

Digital Desk: Major development in Music icon Zubeen Garg's death probe, in contrast to what previous media reports had claimed, Zubeen Garg drowned while swimming off St. John's Island last month in Singapore rather than while scuba diving.

A copy of the autopsy report and its preliminary findings have been shared with the High Commission of India in Singapore, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) confirmed, according to The Straits Times. Earlier, the SPF had ruled out foul play in the 52-year-old singer's death.

The newspaper stated that "a coroner's inquiry could possibly shed light on the sequence of events leading up to Zubeen Garg's drowning," according to Ng Kai Ling, associate director at LIMN Law Corporation. She added that the identity of the deceased, as well as the manner, time, and place of the death, would be ascertained by such an inquiry.

After being pulled unconscious from the waters off St. John's Island on September 19, Garg was brought to Singapore General Hospital, where he was declared dead that same day. The hospital's death certificate listed drowning as the cause of death.

Meanwhile, Assam Police detained Siddhartha Sharma, Zubeen's manager, and Shyamkanu Mahanta, the festival's chief organiser, on Wednesday in Delhi.

As reported by senior police authorities, the duo has been charged under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence.

Investigations are already underway in both Singapore and India to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of one of Assam's most cherished cultural icons.