Delhi Police clears Diljit Dosanjh’s October 30 concert after initial security denial

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have granted permission for singer Diljit Dosanjh’s October 30 concert at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, reversing an initial denial that had cast doubt on the New Delhi leg of his Aura India Tour. The clearance came a day after authorities cited specific security threats and festive season commitments as reasons for withholding the nod.

The event, organised by BookMyShow Live, was initially blocked on Thursday due to "specific threat-related inputs" and "multifarious security and law and order commitments" arising from the ongoing festive season. A senior police official revealed that among the security concerns was a hoax bomb threat email received by several Delhi schools on October 15, which specifically warned students against attending the concert and included pro-Khalistani slogans. Six schools received the email, including The British School, Mount Carmel, Ahlcon International School, and Ahlcon Public School.

Following the denial, fans who had already purchased tickets faced uncertainty, while the singer's team continued to promote the October 30 date on social media. The situation was resolved on Friday after BookMyShow Live held a meeting with Delhi Police to present a comprehensive security, traffic, and crowd-management plan.

"Permission for the event had been temporarily withheld, not cancelled, and the two should not be confused," the organisers stated, confirming that full compliance with all requirements was assured. The New Delhi performance is scheduled to kickstart the Indian leg of Dosanjh’s global tour, which will subsequently travel to Indore, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Chandigarh. As part of the broader world tour, the artist has already performed in multiple countries across North America, Europe and Australia.

The 42-year-old last toured the country in 2024, concluding a multi-city run with a New Year's Eve show in Ludhiana. The brief administrative hurdle quickly escalated into a political flashpoint in the Capital. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the BJP-led government and the police were exhibiting "bias" against "brave Punjabis," referencing a previous controversy over the banning of Dosanjh's film.

In response, Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra dismissed the allegations as "petty politics," pointing out that the singer had successfully held a grand concert at the exact same venue in October 2024. With the police nod now secured, the focus shifts to the execution of the enhanced security protocols at the JLN Stadium. Attendees and local commuters are expected to experience the coordinated crowd-management measures devised during the Friday meeting, ensuring the tour's Indian leg begins without further administrative disruptions.