The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the immediate release of Punjabi music producer Pushpinder Dhaliwal, also known as Pinky Dhaliwal, after ruling his arrest as illegal. Dhaliwal was taken into custody on Saturday by the Mataur police in Mohali following allegations of cheating and exploitation made by Punjabi singer and actress Sunanda Sharma.
High Court Declares Arrest Illegal
In its ruling on Tuesday, the High Court bench led by Justice HS Brar directed Dhaliwal’s immediate release, stating, “Detenue namely Pushpinder Pal Singh Dhaliwal alias Pinky Dhaliwal, father of the petitioner, is stated to be in the custody of Mataur police station, Mohali. He is ordered to be released immediately if his custody is not required in connection with any other case.” The court noted that a detailed order explaining the reasons for his release would be recorded later.
Sunanda Sharma’s Allegations Against Dhaliwal
Sharma, a popular singer with a massive fan following, had accused Dhaliwal of financial exploitation, unlawful conduct, and defamation, which allegedly caused her significant financial loss, mental trauma, and reputational damage.
In her statement, she claimed, “Despite my earnings exceeding ₹250 crore during this period, the accused unlawfully took possession of all my income and usurped my rightful dues. Not a single payment was made to me directly. This blatant financial exploitation has severely impacted my financial stability and well-being.”
Legal Battle and Controversy Over Arrest
Dhaliwal, who runs Mad4Music and Amar Audio, was represented by a team of 14 lawyers, including senior advocates RS Rai, Vinod Ghai, and Amit Jhanji. His legal team argued that his arrest was unlawful, as he was taken into custody before an FIR was officially registered.
According to their argument, Dhaliwal was picked up from his residence in Sector 71, Mohali, at 7:30 pm on March 8, with the police making an official entry of his detention at 7:38 pm. However, when his lawyers inquired about the charges at Mataur police station at 8:20 pm, they were informed that no FIR or complaint had been filed against him at that time.
His legal team immediately approached the High Court, filing a habeas corpus petition and obtaining an order at 11 pm, appointing a warrant officer to investigate the matter. Records indicate that the FIR was officially registered at 11:23 pm, nearly four hours after Dhaliwal had been taken into custody.
When the warrant officer reached the police station at 12:40 am on March 9, the police failed to produce a copy of the FIR, an arrest memo, or any legal grounds for detaining Dhaliwal. The defense team argued that the arrest memo was only prepared seven hours later and that he was illegally picked up before the FIR was filed, making the entire arrest process unconstitutional.
Court’s Intervention and Release Order
After considering the case details, the High Court ruled that Dhaliwal’s arrest was unlawful due to procedural lapses, including the failure to provide legal grounds for his detention, and ordered his immediate release.
This case has sparked discussions about the misuse of legal procedures and the importance of due process in arrests, particularly in high-profile disputes involving the entertainment industry. While Dhaliwal has now been released, the legal battle between him and Sunanda Sharma is expected to continue.
Sources By Agencies
