Chandigarh: Popular Punjabi singer Prem Dhillon has landed in controversy after a video circulating widely on social media allegedly shows him with packets said to contain opium inside a car showroom in Chandigarh. The clip has triggered sharp reactions and led to a formal complaint demanding legal action against the singer.
The complaint has been filed by the Lawyers’ Council, which has approached the Chandigarh Director General of Police and the Senior Superintendent of Police, seeking registration of a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The organisation has also sought Dhillon’s arrest, citing the seriousness of the allegations.
According to Lawyers’ Council chairman Vasu Ranjan Shandilya, the viral footage purportedly shows Prem Dhillon holding a substance resembling opium in what appears to be a public setting. He claimed that the video was uploaded from the singer’s own social media handle, further fuelling the controversy.
The complainant questioned how a public figure could allegedly display a narcotic substance at a time when Punjab and the Chandigarh region are grappling with a severe drug problem. He said such visuals risk sending a harmful message, especially to young people who look up to celebrities as role models.
In its representation to the police, the Lawyers’ Council has demanded a detailed investigation into the origin of the substance visible in the video, which it claimed could be around 300 to 400 grams. The complaint also seeks to ascertain who supplied the alleged narcotic and whether any organised network could be involved.
Concerns have additionally been raised about the possibility of drug-related activities being carried out under the cover of police security provided to the singer. The role of individuals seen with Dhillon in the video has also been questioned, with a demand for their identification and examination.
The council has given Chandigarh Police a 24-hour deadline to register an FIR under the NDPS Act and initiate action, warning that failure to do so would prompt them to move the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Legal experts point out that possession or public display of narcotic substances is a punishable offence under the NDPS Act, 1985. If the allegations are proven, the case could lead to serious legal consequences.
As of now, Prem Dhillon or his representatives have not issued any official statement. Police authorities have said the matter is under preliminary examination and that further action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry.
