Patiala: A local court today (Dec 30, 2003) granted bail to Indi-pop singer Daler Mehndi in an alleged human trafficking case.

Duty Magistrate Satpal ordered that Daler be released on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and two sureties of the same amount.

The sureties can be submitted by January 6, the court ordered.

The singer is expected to be released from police custody today itself after completion of formalities, police sources said.

The police did not seek extension in police remand.

The court directed Patiala Police to escort Daler to New Delhi after his release.

Police said an extension in remand was not sought as it was "not required". The police also did not oppose the bail plea of Daler Mehndi in the court.

Police did not find anything incriminating against the singer during the course of investigations but a clean chit can be given to him only after completion of the probe, police sources said.

The 31 complainants would now be questioned in detail on various aspects of the case, including their sources of income for having allegedly paid Rs 12 lakh to Rs 15 lakh to be taken abroad in the troupe of the singer, the sources said.

The complainants would also have to prove the presence of Daler at places where they allegedly paid the bribe money as the singer had claimed he was not present at those places, the sources added.

Police had secured the record of cellphone calls to ascertain Daler's locations at different points of time, especially at a particular time when the complainants claimed to have paid money to the singer.