MUMBAI: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the immediate release of music producer Pushpinder Dhaliwal, popularly known as Pinky Dhaliwal, who was in the custody of Mataur police in Mohali district. His release follows a habeas corpus petition filed by his son, Gurkaran Singh Dhaliwal, against the state of Punjab.
Justice Harpreet Singh Brar directed Dhaliwal’s release “if his custody is not required in connection with any other case,” while hearing the plea represented by senior counsel RS Rai, Vinod Ghai, Amit Jhanji, Gautam Dutt, and other advocates.
Dhaliwal’s arrest was prompted by the Punjab State Women Commission’s intervention after singer and actress Sunanda Sharma accused him of financial exploitation. In an official press note issued on March 10, Sharma alleged that Dhaliwal withheld payments despite her songs generating Rs 250 crore in revenue. She also accused him of wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, and forgery.
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According to Dhaliwal’s counsel, he was picked up by the police from his residence on March 8. Despite inquiries, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) informed his legal team that no FIR had been registered. However, when the High Court issued a notice and appointed a warrant officer, the Mataur SHO later claimed there was an FIR but refused to release Dhaliwal or provide a copy of the arrest memo.
The counsel further argued that Dhaliwal was illegally detained before the FIR was registered and was forced to sign a “pro forma arrest memo” seven hours after being taken into custody.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Brar allowed the plea and ordered Dhaliwal’s immediate release, stating that detailed reasons would follow in a written judgment.
