A complaint filed following Diljit Dosanjh’s New Year’s Eve concert in Ludhiana has led to legal trouble for the popular singer, who is accused of performing songs promoting alcohol.
The complaint was lodged by Chandigarh-based assistant professor Punditrao Dharenavar, who raised concerns over songs like 'Patiala Pegg', '5 Tara Theke', and 'Case (Jeeb Vicho Feem Labbiya)'.
Dharenavar’s complaint has led to the Deputy Director of the Women and Child Department of the Punjab Government issuing a formal notice to the District Commissioner of Ludhiana, urging local authorities to prevent the singer from performing these tracks at the concert.
The notice specifically requests that the controversial songs, even if modified with altered lyrics, be banned from public performance.
The complaint also references prior advisories issued to Dosanjh by various commissions, advising him against performing these tracks due to their alleged promotion of alcohol. Despite these warnings, the singer reportedly continued to perform them with slight modifications to the lyrics.
The issue is compounded by a 2019 ruling from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which directed that songs glorifying substances like alcohol, drugs, or violence be prohibited at public events. The court’s decision emphasised the detrimental impact such songs can have on impressionable audiences, particularly children.
Dharenavar has stated his intention to escalate the matter to the High Court if the concert proceeds with these songs.
Dharenavar also criticised Dosanjh for performing these songs while wearing a pagadi, a traditional headgear, which he believes should not be associated with promoting negative values.
The Ludhiana concert, which was added as a last-minute stop to Dosanjh’s Dil-Luminati India Tour, marked the grand finale of his three-month nationwide performance schedule. The show, announced on December 23, sold out within minutes.
Dosanjh has faced legal scrutiny for similar issues in other cities. Earlier in November, a complaint in Hyderabad led to a legal notice from the Telangana government for his performance of alcohol and violence-promoting songs. The controversy also extended to Dosanjh’s Indore show, where he defended himself against accusations of black market ticket sales.
In the midst of the ongoing legal challenges, Dosanjh previously made headlines with his comments on alcohol. During a performance in Ahmedabad, he vowed to stop making songs about alcohol if the Indian government imposed a nationwide liquor ban, stating, "If all the states declare themselves as dry states, I promise I won't sing about alcohol ever again."
Despite the controversies, Dosanjh’s Dil-Luminati tour has been a major success, with tickets selling out at every stop.
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