Silchar, March 26 -- A State Coroner's Court in Singapore on Wednesday ruled that the death of Assam singer Zubeen Garg in 2025 was the result of an accidental drowning, with no evidence of foul play. It added that there was no indication that anyone forced Garg into the water or contributed to his death through deliberate action -- belying claims made by his family, supporters, and even the chief minister of Assam. Delivering the findings, state coroner Adam Nakhoda said the court had no reason to differ from the conclusions of the Police Coast Guard, which determined that the incident was a tragic accident. Garg reportedly died on September 19, 2025, after swimming near Lazarus Island when he was out on a yacht. He was in Singapore to attend a cultural festival and was scheduled to perform the following day. According to evidence presented during the coroner's inquiry, the singer had consumed alcohol prior to boarding the yacht and appeared visibly unsteady. Witnesses told the court that he initially wore a life jacket but later removed it, citing poor fit. The court found that Zubeen, after returning to the yacht in an exhausted state, attempted a second swim towards the island. "Despite being offered a properly sized life jacket, he refused to wear it," the court noted, adding that those present made repeated efforts to persuade him to use safety gear, as per the police investigation. The Singapore Police stated that video evidence reviewed during the inquiry showed Garg's swimming appeared laboured and unsteady. He turned back towards the yacht, possibly due to fatigue or physical discomfort, before becoming unresponsive in the water, they added. Other swimmers quickly moved to assist him and brought him back on board, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered. Emergency services were alerted, and he was transported to Singapore General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that evening. A post-mortem examination confirmed drowning as the cause of death. Toxicology findings showed a high level of alcohol in his bloodstream, which the court said would have significantly impaired his coordination and judgment. The coroner also took note of Garg's medical history, including hypertension and epilepsy, but said there was insufficient evidence to conclude that a seizure had occurred at the time of the incident. Addressing concerns raised by the singer's family, the court said the investigation had been comprehensive and thorough and found no indication that anyone had forced or coerced Garg into the water or contributed to his death through deliberate action. Garg's death had sparked outrage in Assam, with protests and demands for accountability. Separate criminal proceedings remain ongoing in India against several individuals connected to the trip. The Assam government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) following the death in September last year. Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma later described the incident as a plain and simple murder, prompting a parallel criminal investigation in India under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). A team of SIT headed by CID chief Munna Prasad Gupta travelled to Singapore in October last year following diplomatic intervention. After nearly three months of investigation, SIT filed a chargesheet in December 2025 under provisions of the BNS....