Hey there, folks.
We are writing this from the heart here at THOUSIF Inc. – INDIA, where we love diving deep into stories that matter, especially those that touch on culture, loss, and the quest for truth.
If you are from the Northeast or a music lover, you have probably heard the name Zubeen Garg a thousand times.
He was not just a singer but a voice for an entire region, blending folk tunes with rock vibes that made your soul dance.
However, his sudden passing on September 19, 2025, at just 52, has left everyone reeling.
Was it a simple drowning during a swim gone wrong, or is there something darker at play?
We have pulled together every detail from his life, the incident, and the latest twists in the investigation to give you the whole picture.
Please stick with us; this will be a long, heartfelt read, but I promise it is worth it.
Let us start at the beginning, because to understand the weight of his loss, you need to know the legend he was.
Born as Bidyut Borthakur on November 18, 1972, in Tura, Meghalaya, Zubeen came from a family that breathed art.
His dad, Mohini Mohon Borthakur, was a magistrate and poet who wrote under the pen name Kapil Thakur.
His mom, Ily Borthakur, was a singer and dancer herself.
Growing up with siblings, including his sister Jonkie, who passed away earlier, Zubeen dropped out of his Bachelor of Science to chase music full-time.
Moreover, boy, did he chase it hard.
Over 33 years, he recorded over 40,000 songs in over 40 languages and dialects.
That is not a typo, 40,000!
He was called “Zubeen Da,” the “Heartthrob of Assam,” and even the “King of Humming” for his unique style that mixed pop, rock, classical, and folk elements.
He did not just sing; he preserved Assamese traditions and worked with tribal communities to keep their music alive.
His career kicked off in 1992 with the Assamese album Anamika, and hits like Maya in 1994 and Ujan Piriti in 1995 followed.
By 1995, he was in Mumbai, dropping Hindi albums like Chandni Raat and Yuhi Kabhi in 1998.
Bollywood came calling with tracks in Dil Se in 1998, Fiza in 2000, and the massive “Ya Ali” from Gangster in 2006, which snagged him the Global Indian Film Award for Best Playback Singer (Male).
He started with Mon in Bengali cinema in 2003 and composed for Shudhu Tumi in 2004.
However, Zubeen was not content with music; he acted, directed, and produced films.
His debut as an actor and director was Tumi Mor Matho Mor in 2000.
Later works like Mission China in 2017, Kanchanjangha in 2019, and Dr. Bezbaruah 2 in 2023 tackled social and political issues head-on.
Awards poured in: a National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Music Direction in 2009, multiple Prag Cine Awards, and the Bhupen Hazarika Lifetime Achievement Award just this year in 2025.
He was also a poet, with books like Xabda Anubhuti in 2009, and a philanthropist who ran the Kalaguru Artiste Foundation, helping with flood relief and more.
Zubeen was outspoken, protesting the 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act, and even got an honorary D.Litt. in 2024.
His life was a whirlwind of creativity and activism.
To make this easier to digest, here is a table breaking down some of his key career milestones:
Now, shifting to the heartbreaking part: the circumstances around his death.
Zubeen was invited as a star guest in Singapore for the 4th North East India Festival.
On September 19, 2025, he attended a private yacht party near St. John’s or Lazarus Island, thrown by some members of the Assamese community.
It was meant to be a fun unwind, but things turned tragic.
Reports say he went swimming, not scuba diving like some early stories claimed, and had a seizure in the water. Zubeen had a history of seizures, you see.
He wore a life jacket for his first dip but returned alone for a second swim.
He was found floating face down, pulled out, and rushed to Singapore General Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead at 2:30 PM.
The initial autopsy there pointed to drowning, with no apparent signs of foul play.
However, eyewitnesses later shared chilling details: Zubeen gasping for breath, frothing at the mouth and nose.
His manager brushed it off as acid reflux, which raised eyebrows.
A bandmate even suggested possible poisoning on the yacht.
The festival was canceled right after, and many thought the whole thing smelled fishy.
This led to the death being labeled unnatural, sparking probes by Singapore police and Assam’s CID Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The public outcry was massive, with FIRs accusing the festival organizer, Shyamkanu Mahanta, manager Siddhartha Sharma, and others of conspiracy.
A second post-mortem was held on September 23, 2025, at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, under the supervision of AIIMS Guwahati experts.
Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ordered it for transparency, though he thought it might not be needed.
As of today, October 11, 2025, the probe is intensifying big time.
The SIT has now received the viscera report from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Delhi, which could finally shed light on those poisoning rumors, or whether he was intoxicated with alcohol before the incident.
Singapore has stepped up, too.
They have launched a whole “coroner’s case” to investigate the facts behind his death, and they are acting on India’s request for more information and cooperation.
Assam Police are still waiting for some details from Singapore, but things are moving.
On the arrests front, two more big ones happened yesterday, October 10: Zubeen’s personal security officers, Paresh Baishya and Nandeshwar Bora, were nabbed after days of grilling.
They are in five-day police custody now.
Investigators found suspicious, large financial transactions, we are talking ₹1 crore, in their bank accounts, which screams potential conspiracy.
That brings the total arrests to seven.
Earlier ones include Mahanta, Sharma, band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta, and Zubeen’s cousin, Assam Police DSP Sandipan Garg, who was arrested on October 8 and suspended.
The CID has murder charges in play, with forensic reports still trickling in. A team is gearing up to visit Singapore, and there is chatter about financial irregularities tied to the organizer, too.
However, not everyone is happy with the pace; questions are swirling about why the second post-mortem report has not been shared even after 20 days.
Allegations of forced drowning and a bigger financial plot are floating around, complicating things.
Zubeen’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, marked 21 days since his death a couple of days back, urging no politicization and begging witnesses to speak up.
His family wants answers fast.
Opposition parties criticize the CM for mixing politics with grief, and groups like the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad call for resignations over alleged favors.
CM Sarma says the probe is solid, and a chargesheet will be available in three months.
He is set to meet the Singapore envoy.
Here is a timeline table to track the key events:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 19, 2025 | Zubeen dies during yacht party swim in Singapore; initial autopsy cites drowning. |
| September 21, 2025 | Body flown to Guwahati; millions pay tribute. |
| September 23, 2025 | Cremated with state honors; second post-mortem conducted. |
| Late September 2025 | SIT formed; FIRs against organizer, manager, others. |
| Early October 2025 | Arrests begin: Mahanta, Sharma, band members. |
| October 8, 2025 | DSP Sandipan Garg arrested and suspended. |
| October 10, 2025 | Two PSOs, Paresh Baishya and Nandeshwar Bora, arrested; viscera report received by SIT. |
| October 11, 2025 | Singapore launches coroner’s case; post-mortem details awaited. |
Moreover, an updated table on the arrests for clarity:
| Arrested | Role | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Shyamkanu Mahanta | Festival organizer | Early October |
| Siddhartha Sharma | Zubeen’s manager | Early October |
| Shekhar Jyoti Goswami | Band member | Early October |
| Amrit Prabha Mahanta | Band member (possibly related to organizer) | Early October |
| Sandipan Garg | Zubeen’s cousin, Assam DSP, present at yacht | October 8 |
| Paresh Baishya | Zubeen’s personal security officer; suspicious financial transactions | October 10 |
| Nandeshwar Bora | Zubeen’s personal security officer; suspicious financial transactions | October 10 |
The public reaction? Overwhelming.
When his body arrived in Guwahati, it was like the whole state stopped.
From the airport to the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex, crowds lined up.
Cremation on September 23 included a 21-gun salute with full state honors.
Fans, celebs, and everyday folks mourned online and offline.
Hashtags like #JusticeForZubeen trended for days.
In his final interview, Zubeen talked about feeling exploited, which fueled the fire.
People from all walks of life, Hindus, Muslims, and Christians, felt his loss equally, as one community leader put it.
His influence crossed borders and religions.
Trivia Time: Did you know Zubeen once composed and sang in 40 languages, including rare dialects from Northeast tribes? That is like preserving a whole cultural library in melodies!
Wrapping this up, Zubeen Garg’s story is one of triumph, talent, and now, tragedy wrapped in mystery.
Whether it was negligence, accident, or something sinister, the truth must shine through for his fans and family.
At THOUSIF Inc. – INDIA, we are all about sharing these real, human tales that connect us.
If this moved you, check out our other articles on cultural icons and current events on the site; we have plenty more where this came from.
Drop a comment below.
What do you think happened?
Let us keep the conversation going.
Take care, and remember, music lives forever.
About The Author
