According to reports, a petition was filed by an activist claiming that Randhawa’s track promotes substance abuse and sends out the wrong message to youth.
.jpg)
Popular Punjabi singer Guru Randhawa, known for chartbusters like Lahore, High Rated Gabru and Suit Suit, has landed in controversy after a Ludhiana court issued a summons against him over alleged drug glorification in one of his recent songs.
According to reports, a petition was filed by an activist claiming that Randhawa’s track promotes substance abuse and sends out the wrong message to youth. The court, taking cognizance of the matter, has directed the singer to appear before it next month.
The petitioner argued that Punjab, already battling a severe drug crisis, cannot afford to have influential figures in popular culture endorsing or normalizing substance use, even indirectly. The lyrics, he said, have the potential to influence impressionable audiences, particularly young listeners who form a large part of Randhawa’s fanbase.
While the exact song in question has not been officially disclosed by authorities, the case once again highlights the growing scrutiny of Punjabi music, where themes of alcohol, guns, and drugs frequently come under fire from critics and lawmakers alike.
This is not the first time Punjabi singers have been called out for their lyrics. In recent years, several high-profile artists have faced criticism and in some cases legal action,for allegedly glamorizing gun culture or substance abuse. Randhawa’s summons signals that the entertainment industry’s creative boundaries are being closely monitored by courts and regulatory bodies.
So far, Randhawa has not issued a public statement regarding the summons. Industry insiders, however, note that the singer has traditionally maintained a clean image compared to many of his contemporaries, which makes this development particularly surprising.
The case will now be heard in Ludhiana, where the court will decide whether the lyrics indeed cross the line between artistic expression and unlawful promotion of drugs.
For fans and the wider music community, this legal battle raises a larger debate: Where should the line be drawn between artistic freedom and social responsibility in popular music?