Chandigarh: Punjab Police today (Jan 10, 2004) gave a clean chit to Indi-pop singer Daler Mehndi in the human trafficking case but said investigations pointed out the involvement of his brother Shamsher.

"From the record (including of Embassies) it was not found true that Daler took a large number of people (abroad in his troupe)," the Director General of Punjab Police A A Siddiqui told reporters.

However, he said investigations have so far pointed to the involvement of Daler's brother.

He said that from the record of the Embassies it came out that Daler's troupe had come back, adding the outcome of the investigations conducted by Punjab Police has given the singer a reprieve.

"There were allegations against Daler Mehndi, but during the investigations many things came out, that is why he got reprieve," he said.

Siddiqui said Daler's allegation that Patiala Police demanded Rs 1.50 crore to keep him out of the case during the tenure of former SSP Paramraj Singh Umranangal was being probed by the zonal IGP and action would be taken as per the findings in the report.

He said Umranangal gave details (of alleged involvement of Daler) on the basis of details in the complaint.

To a question, he said media had hyped the case as the person involved in the case was hyped.