NRI lyricist held for 2019 ‘anti-Dera’ song

An NRI lyricist was arrested for an “anti-Dera” song he wrote in 2019. Spain resident Pawan Mehmi, who follows Bhimrao Ambedkar, was picked up from Hadiabad near Phagwara in Punjab, where a Dalit group was celebrating the Constitution Day. In March 2019, Jalandhar based Guru Ravidas Tiger Force president Amit ‘Jassi Talhan’ had lodged an FIR under IPC Section 295-A (hurting religious sentiments) at the Patara police station against singer Jiwan Mehmi, alleging that he had abused Deras in a song. Later, lyricist Mehmi was also booked. Ambedkar Sena Moolniwasi chief Harbhajan Suman, who supports Mehmi, said: “While the singer got bail, Pawan was declared a proclaimed offender since he was abroad.”