Punjabi film producer Amardeep Singh Grewal was detained at the Delhi airport and is currently being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), according to agency sources. The detention follows the issuance of a Look Out Circular against the producer, who is linked to the company M/S East Sunshine Production Private Limited. While he has been taken into custody for questioning, officials indicated that he had not been formally arrested as of the afternoon of October 17.
Grewal, who has produced notable Punjabi films including Maujan Hi Maujan and Snowman, has been the subject of a money-laundering probe initiated by the central agency. The investigation stems from allegations that a sum of five crore rupees was demanded in an effort to stifle or settle an ongoing criminal case. The production company associated with Grewal is known for having various overseas production and distribution linkages, which have become a point of interest for investigators.
The central agency had previously issued summons to Grewal on two separate occasions. He was initially requested to appear before the High Intensity Unit in Delhi on October 7 but requested an adjournment. Subsequently, he was asked to present himself at the ED’s Delhi office on October 9, but he failed to comply with that summons. It remains unclear at this time whether the agency has formally registered a separate case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) regarding these specific transactions.
This investigation has drawn significant public attention due to the producer’s alleged familial connection to the wife of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. Reports describe Grewal as a brother-in-law to the Chief Minister, specifically noting that the cousin of Dr. Gurpreet Kaur Mann is reportedly married to the producer. However, a spokesperson for the Punjab government has previously and repeatedly denied any relationship between the Chief Minister and Amardeep Grewal.
The underlying criminal case, which triggered these broader allegations, involves an abduction and rape complaint. In April, the father of a woman alleged that his daughter had been abducted by Gurvinder Singh, also known as Guri Chahal, a resident of Mohali. An FIR was subsequently registered in Amritsar on April 29, leading to the rescue of the woman on May 1. While Chahal was arrested on May 13, he was released on bail by mid-July, a development that sparked widespread allegations of a botched police investigation.
The matter gained further traction following an independent probe conducted by the Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO), which was led by former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Ranjit Singh. The panel's findings named Dr. Gurpreet Kaur Mann in relation to the controversy. In response, Dr. Mann has categorically denied any association or link to the case on multiple occasions and has initiated legal action by sending a defamation notice to the PHRO.
The broader implications of these events have also reached the national level, with the National Human Rights Commission taking formal cognisance of the situation on August 22. As the Enforcement Directorate continues its questioning of Grewal, the legal proceedings surrounding the original criminal case and the subsequent bribery allegations remain a significant point of contention. Authorities have not yet disclosed the specific destination or itinerary of the producer at the time of his detention at the Delhi airport.
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