Daler Mehndi Called Drunk on Stage, Accuser Doubles Down

On October 18 at the cultural evening of the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in New Tehri, Uttarakhand, cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal walked up and confronted Daler Mehndi in front of the crowd. Mehndi, who had been performing, was accused of lip-syncing while under the influence of alcohol. The confrontation was filmed and circulated widely. Mehndi was sick that night, not drunk.

Mika Singh, Mehndi's brother, said publicly that Daler "did not consume alcohol and had been unwell at the time." Bollywood backed him: Anupam Kher, Kapil Sharma, Rajpal Yadav, and Badshah all posted or commented in Mehndi's defense after the video circulated. Mika demanded a public apology from Uniyal.

By October 26 the story appeared to close. WION reported that Uniyal had called Mehndi and apologized. Mika Singh's team released a statement confirming it.

We appreciate that Subodh Uniyal ji has apologised to Daler Mehndi paaji over a telephonic conversation regarding the unfortunate incident. Respecting artists and their dignity is extremely important. Daler paaji is a senior artist who has contributed immensely to the music industry.
Mika Singh's team statement via IANS, as reported by WION, October 26, 2026

The next day, Uniyal told the outlet Satya Vani that the apology had never happened. He also added a money argument: Mehndi had been paid Rs 26 lakh to perform for the public, and in his view the audience did not get what it paid for. An earlier ANI interview put the figure at Rs 35 lakh. The fee amounts differ; both are Uniyal's own claims, per Gulf News.

Mera maafi maangne ka prashn hi nahi hai. Tell me, have I committed any crime that I should apologise? If he was unwell, he should not have come.
Subodh Uniyal, Satya Vani interview, as reported by Gulf News, October 27, 2026

The government client problem

State-organized cultural events put performers in a structurally weak position. The government books the artist, sets the terms, and then controls the stage. When a minister chose to deliver a verdict on Mehndi's performance to the live crowd rather than through event management, Mehndi had no platform to respond in the moment. His brother became the public voice because Mehndi himself has not addressed the incident directly since it happened.

Uniyal's fee argument reframes the story as a service contract dispute rather than a question of dignity or due process. Under that framing, an ill performer who shows up anyway and tries to work is the one at fault, not the official who accuses him of being drunk in front of an audience. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami tried to close the matter, with Mika Singh telling the press that Dhami apologized on the minister's behalf. Uniyal says that did not happen either.

As of November 3 the minister has reiterated his position to India.com. Daler Mehndi has not spoken publicly. The incident has no formal resolution, and no legal action has been reported.

Ad Watch News is an independent commentary site with no affiliation with Daler Mehndi, Mika Singh, Subodh Uniyal, the Uttarakhand government, or any organization mentioned in this piece.

Daler Mehndi Called Drunk on Stage, Accuser Doubles Down

The government client problem

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