Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today denied that a senior police officer from Patiala had sought a bribe of Rs 1.5 crore [approximately US $330,000] from pop star Daler Mehndi to bail him and his brother, Shamsher Mehndi, out of a case of cheating and forgery.

A case of fraud and cheating has been registered in Patiala against Daler Mehndi, Shamsher Mehndi, and three others on a complaint filed by a man named Bakshish Singh.

Police believe the pop star and his brother are involved in an illegal immigration racket. They suspect the duo includes potential illegal immigrants in the singer's troupe whenever he is touring the United States or Canada.

Bakshish Singh has alleged that Shamsher Mehndi took Rs 13 lakh [US $28,500] from him with the promise of taking him aboard.

Daler Mehndi told a television channel on Tuesday that the case against him and his brother had been fabricated to defame him. He also alleged that a senior police officer had demanded Rs 1.5 crore as bribe to help him escape getting trapped in the case.

But Amarinder Singh told reporters in New Delhi today that he was not surprised by Daler Mehndi's allegations as people under investigation do fling wild charges at others. "I do not believe that any of my officers sought a bribe from Daler Mehndi," the chief minister said.

Singh said his government is concerned about the growing number of cases of cheating and forgery by dubious travel agents. "We are going to take strict action against such anti-social elements who dupe people of their hard-earned money," he said.

"I am also concerned about the increasing cases of NRI bridegrooms deserting their wives and remarrying," he said.