Patiala, Nov 18: The DIG of Police, probing Indi-pop singer Daler Mehndi's charge that police demanded money from him, today submitted his report even as Punjab Police searched possible hideouts of the singer at various places in connection with an alleged illegal human trafficking case. DIG (Patiala) I P S Sahota submitted a report on Daler's accusation to IG Shashi Kant, police sources said, but declined to divulge details of the report.

Sahota had sought Daler's presence on the ground that he was inquiring into the singer's allegations on October 06 that Patiala Police had demanded Rs 1.50 crore to keep his name out of the case. However, Daler failed to turn up before the DIG last month on health grounds. Police sources said custodial interrogation of Daler was necessary in the case and if the singer remained elusive till December 19, he would be declared proclaimed offender.

Immediately after registration of a case against Daler by Patiala Police on October 06, he had told a press conference in Delhi that police was demanding money from him.

Police sources said it was found during investigations that Daler had gone abroad along with his troupe 15 times after 1998 on a new passport. Yesterday police had started proclamation proceedings against the singer and others.

The case against Daler was registered by Patiala Police on a complaint by one Bakshish Singh who alleged that he was not taken abroad in the singer's troupe even though he had paid Rs 12 lakh for it.

Bureau Report