Singer Mika Singh has publicly challenged Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal over his claim that veteran singer Daler Mehndi was lip-syncing at a recent Navratri event despite receiving a fee of ₹35 lakh. In a pointed post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, Mika demanded that the minister produce payment receipts to settle the controversy.

Mika Singh's Direct Challenge

Posting on his official X handle, Mika Singh wrote: “Sir, aapne ₹35 lakh cash mein diye the ya cheque se? Agar aapke paas payment ki receipts hain, toh please public ke saamne share kijiye, taaki sabko sach pata chal sake. Thank you! @SubodhUniyal1” — asking whether the ₹35 lakh was paid in cash or by cheque and urging the minister to share proof publicly so the truth could be established. The post, directed at the minister's official handle, swiftly drew wide attention online.

What Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal Alleged

Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal, speaking to the media, said Daler Mehndi was invited to the programme as a well-known name in the industry. However, he claimed it appeared during the show that Mehndi was only lip-syncing to his songs, despite having been offered ₹35 lakh for the appearance. Uniyal added that, as a local representative and member of the fair committee, he was under pressure from the public to address the matter.

Mika Singh Defends His Brother

The controversy had already escalated a day earlier, on Tuesday, when Mika Singh went further in his brother's defence — challenging anyone who could prove that Daler Mehndi drinks alcohol to come forward, pledging he would quit singing if such proof was produced. Mika also shared a video on social media in which he questioned whether anyone had ever seen a glass of alcohol in Mehndi's hand or witnessed alcohol at his birthday parties.

In the video, Mika said: “Have you ever seen a glass of alcohol in his hand, or seen alcohol flowing freely at his birthday parties? No, you have not. Jab aapne dekha hi nahi, toh aapne kaise keh diya unse khada nahi hua jaa raha. Hum artists kayin baar kisi ke kehne par haan kar dete hain 'yes we will do the show' Even if we have 104 degree fever, it doesn't matter. If I am sick, and I have a show day after tomorrow, and I have already committed, then even if the budget is big or small, I will do it. Inhone (Daler) bhi aisa hi kiya hoga.”

The Broader Context

The dispute puts a spotlight on the conditions under which artists perform at large public and religious events in India — and the accountability mechanisms, if any, that organisers can invoke. Critics note that allegations of lip-syncing are not new in the entertainment circuit, but a sitting Cabinet Minister publicly raising them against a nationally recognised artiste adds unusual political weight. Notably, no formal complaint or official inquiry has been reported so far. The exchange also raises questions about contract transparency at publicly funded or committee-organised cultural events.

Both sides have yet to provide documentary evidence; the matter is likely to develop further as public scrutiny intensifies.