High Court Halts Case Against Guru Randhawa Over ‘Sirra’ Song Controversy
Singer argues lyrics were misinterpreted and that he acted in good faith by agreeing to revise the disputed line
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has put criminal proceedings on hold against popular Punjabi singer Guru Randhawa, who was accused of insulting the Jatt-Sikh community through a lyric in his 2025 song Sirra. Justice Surya Pratap Singh issued the stay on March 20, while simultaneously asking the opposing party to respond to the petition.
The controversy centres on a single line from the song, which a complainant, Rajdeep Singh Mann, interpreted as implying that children born into Jatt-Sikh households are given opium at birth — a claim he said dragged the reputation of the entire community through the mud. He further argued that the lyric distorted the sacred Sikh ritual of Gurthi, a ceremonial first nourishment administered to newborns in accordance with Sikh scripture and tradition.
Criminal charges were filed against Randhawa under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections relating to defamation, insulting religious sentiments, and promoting enmity between groups.
Randhawa’s legal team struck back on two fronts. On procedure, they argued that the trial court had issued a notice to the singer without first recording the complainant’s sworn statement — a step they contend is mandatory under Section 223 of the BNSS. On substance, they maintained that the word gurthi as used in the song carries a common colloquial meaning in everyday Punjabi and was never intended as a reference to the sacred Sikh ceremony. They further argued that the lyric contains no direct or implied reference to Sikh scripture, religious authority, or the community as an identifiable body, and therefore cannot meet the legal threshold for criminal defamation.
The singer’s side also pointed out that Randhawa had responded promptly to a prior legal notice, denied any malicious intent, and taken steps to have the lyric removed or revised from digital platforms — a demonstration, they said, of good faith.
The matter is next scheduled to be heard on July 16.
Case: Gursharanjot Singh Randhawa @ Guru Randhawa v/s Rajdeep Singh Mann and Others | CRM-M-13194-2026
