Daler Mehndi convicted in trafficking case managed to get bail in 27 minutes. A Patiala Court sentenced Punjabi Pop singer Daler Mehndi for two years in jail in a 2003 human trafficking case on Friday. However, on the same day, the court also granted him bail in a matter of 27 minutes.
Patiala sadar police station had registered a case against Mehndi, his brother Shamsher Mehndi and others on the complaint of one Bakhshish Singh from Balbhera village accusing them of illegally sending people abroad by disguising them as members of his troupe. Not just this, Singh had also alleged that he took around Rs 1 crore from them, and failed to return the money when the deal never matured.
Media reports say that Mehndi brothers had carried two troupes to the US one each in 1998 and 1999 which had 10 people in them who were not part of any troupe. The pop singer was arrested after the Patiala police registered the case but he came out on bail a few days after that and it has been 15 years since the case is going on in the court.
ALSO READ: How Sudara Is Fighting For Trafficking Victims In India
This case encourage several others to come out and complaint against the two brothers with similar cases.
His brother Shamsher died in October last year after suffering from Jaundice. Shamsher was a part of brother Daler Mehndi's troupe who also performed at several stage shows with him. He wrote some songs for him and worked as a record producer.
“This case has been going on since last 14 years with my brother, who unfortunately passed away last year, as the main accused. Even after court found no evidence against me, with assumption that my brother was under my umbrella, court has put out this verdict,”
"Court has granted me bail. We will appeal in a higher court," Mehndi told the media.
Earlier, Police had petitioned twice before the court appealing non-appearance of Daler in the court since he had nothing to do with the immigration fraud, called 'kabootarbaazi' –meaning flying pigeons referring to numerous youth in Punjab trying to use illegal means to settle abroad.
“This case has been going on since last 14 years with my brother, who unfortunately passed away last year, as the main accused. Even after court found no evidence against me, with assumption that my brother was under my umbrella, court has put out this verdict,” the Punjabi singer tweeted.
“This saddens me but I have complete faith in God that truth will come out soon. We will approach the session’s court for justice,” he added.
Picture credit- Odishatv
More Stories by Poorvi Gupta
Follow Us/shethepeople/media/post_banners/jrDnUvCysH6A2iXPjdX7.jpg)
/shethepeople/media/agency_attachments/iUYfaBbcMozaYLoGnoov.png)
