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Daler Mehndi to face trial
Indo-Asian News Service
Chandigarh, Sep 2 (IANS) A court in Punjab's Patiala city has
summoned popular bhangra pop singer Daler Mehndi Oct 11 to face
trial on charges that he facilitated an illegal immigration
racket through his musical troupes.
The court order comes as a slap on the face of Punjab Police,
which included Daler in the illegal immigration racket in
September 2003 but later told the court that the singer was not
involved.
Judicial magistrate Rajwinder Singh rejected the police plea to
let Daler off the hook. The judge also refused to give any
exemption to Daler from personal appearance in the trial.
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The judge order Thursday said that in his opinion
there was sufficient ground and material against the singer.
The immigration racket came to light in 2003. Some of the
victims had then alleged that the police were trying to shield
the millionaire singer. Daler had been remanded in police
custody in October 2003.
Daler, his brother Shamsher Singh and others were booked on
charges of getting Punjab youths on board their musical troupes
for shows in Western countries and then allowing them to stay
back illegally in those countries.
Shamsher spent several months in prison in 2003 following the
case.
Police officials claim any youth who wanted to benefit from the
racket had to pay Rs.2-2.5 million in bribe money.
After Daler was charged in 2003, the police changed its stance
in 2004 saying the singer was not involved and it had no
evidence against him. The same police had earlier stripped Daler
in a police station before interrogating him.
Daler, whose "Bolo tara ra ra" and several other numbers are
major hits, is the elder brother of pop singer Mika, who was
recently involved in a kissing row with item number Rakhi Sawant.
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