‘WHO SAYS I WAS ARRESTED?’
Singer Mika says he went to the police station on his own to help with slapgate investigation
Singer Mika Singh has denied reports that he was arrested and later let out on bail on Thursday, after he was accused of slapping a 27-year-old opthalmologist, Dr Shrikant, at a concert in Delhi in April.
The singer issued a press statement late Thursday night, claiming he was not arrested. “It was not that I got arrested, in fact I had voluntarily gone to the police station to complete the formalities by recording my statement and getting the procedure completed ... and I have fully cooperated with the investigation,” the statement read.
The 38-year-old pop singer further added that he had no grudges against Shrikant. “As far as the doctor is concerned I have no personal grudges against him, but as a responsible person I thought I should help someone and it was only a reaction to someone misbehaving with a lady in public,” he clarified.
A case of causing hurt and wrongful restraint was registered against the singer at Inderpuri police station.
Meanwhile, his brother, singer Daler Mehndi, said, “I got to know from Mika’s assistants that he didn’t really get arrested. He was called in by the police for investigation. It’s heartening that celebrities are not beyond the reach of law anymore.”
The cops, however, have a different version. “Through the notice, we had asked him to reach the Inderpuri police station by 3pm on Thursday. Singh arrived at the police station before 3pm and was arrested. He was later released after he furnished a personal bond,” says RA Sanjeev, Deputy commissioner of police (south west).
Dr Shrikant, who had served a legal notice to Mika two weeks ago, suing him for defamation and asking for ` 1 crore as damages, says he is satisfied with the way the cops are handling the case. “I am happy that justice has finally been delivered. It proves that Delhi police doesn’t treat celebs differently. I don’t have any problems with Mika getting bail ... he has a right to apply for it.”