Singer Mika Singh has come out in strong defence of his elder brother, Daler Mehndi, challenging anyone to prove allegations that the veteran performer consumes alcohol and declaring that he would quit singing if the claim were established.
Mika responded after Daler was publicly reprimanded during a performance at the Kunjapuri Fair in Uttarakhand’s Tehri district on October 18. The incident occurred during the Navratri celebrations when Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister and local MLA Subodh Uniyal reportedly interrupted the singer on stage and accused him of performing after consuming alcohol.
In a video shared on social media, Mika questioned the basis of the allegations, pointing to his brother’s three-decade-long career and asking whether anyone had ever seen Daler holding a glass of alcohol or serving it at his birthday celebrations.
“If you haven’t seen it yourself, how can you say that he was unable to stand?” Mika said, arguing that an artist’s onstage condition should not automatically be attributed to alcohol consumption.
He suggested that Daler might have performed despite being unwell because artists often honour professional commitments even when they are sick. Mika said his brother had been unwell for the past two years and was still recovering, but continued to perform with his band.
In his social media caption, Mika urged media organisations to verify allegations before publishing them and give artists an opportunity to present their side. He also questioned whether an international act such as Coldplay would be treated similarly.
Calling Daler one of India’s biggest superstars, Mika said his brother’s stature could make him an easy target for criticism. He warned that unverified headlines could damage an artist’s reputation and appealed for responsible reporting.
“The way Daler Mehndi was treated on stage was disappointing,” Mika wrote, reiterating that allegations should not be accepted or circulated without checking the facts.
The controversy followed the minister’s intervention during Daler’s performance at the religious and cultural event, where the singer was asked to stop performing.