Daler Mehndi convicted in human trafficking case

Singer Daler Mehndi has been sent to two years in jail in a human trafficking case.

The 50-year-old singer was convicted earlier today (16) and taken into custody by the Punjab Police.

"I have been granted bail. We will appeal in higher court," Daler Mehndi told reporters outside court.

A case against Mehndi and his brother Shamsher Singh were registered in 2003, accusing the duo of illegally sending people abroad disguised as members of his troupe. Between 1998 and 1999 Mehndi and Singh reportedly took about 10 people to the US and dropped them off illegally.

The Patiala police soon filed a case against the brothers stemming from a complaint filed by Bakshish Singh. It didn't take long before 35 more complaints were leveled against the brothers.

According to the complainants, the singer and his brother had taken “passage money" to help them migrate to the US "illegally", but had failed to do so.

On raiding Mehndi's offices at Connaught Place in New Delhi, Patiala police found case file of those who had paid the duo "passage money”. Mehndi had dropped off three girls from Gujarat at San Francisco and three boys at New Jersey.

Mehndi garnered massive following in the late 90s and early 2000s for his pop songs, "Tunak Tunak Tun", "Bolo Ta Ra Ra" and "Saade Naal Rahoge Toh...".

Mehndi is popular in the international music circuit as well, and in an interview with TOI, the singer said he listens to old UK Bhangra.

"I am very grateful to Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji that he has given me his blessings and that so many people have love for me.

"I love listening to the old UK Bhangra such as Bhabiye Ni Bhabiye by Chaani, Alaap, Heera, Malkit Paji, Safri Boys, I feel very happy when I listen to their songs and their style of music. I also like Sukhshinder Shinda," he said.