Punjabi pop singer Daler Mehndi was on Friday arrested by the Delhi police a few hours after his counsel told the Supreme Court that he would surrender on January 8. He is wanted by the Punjab police in a human trafficking case.

Earlier in the day, a bench comprising Justice D Raju and Justice Arijit Pasayat had directed the police to provide adequate protection to the singer when he surrendered before the appropriate court. His bail petition was posted for hearing on January 16, 2004.

Also Read Daler Mehndi to surrender before court on Jan 8

In view of this, Daler's advocate Ravinder Kumar said the arrest amounted to contempt of the Supreme Court's order.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (special cell) Ashok Chand denied the charge. "We have arrested Daler Mehndi after considering all legal aspects," he told rediff.com.

Daler was found after a special team led by Inspector Rakesh raided the house of a person named Shamsher Singh in Vasant Vihar in south Delhi.

Daler, according to police sources, did not offer any resistance. "We asked him to come along and he obliged," said one of the inspectors.

"Our seven-member team brought him to the Lodhi Road Police Station. We were aware that the Punjab police was looking for him. We sought details of the cases in which he is named. We received this information at about 5pm and subsequently, after looking into the legal aspects, placed him under arrest at 6pm," said Assistant Commissioner of Police Shibesh Singh.

A Punjab police team from Patiala has left for Delhi to seek Daler's custody in connection with the cases registered against him in the Sadar Police Station.

On Saturday, the Delhi police would produce in the court of the chief metropolitan magistrate in Tees Hazari and seek transit remand.

Daler Mehndi Case: Complete Coverage