US Court Summons Diljit Dosanjh and Jimmy Fallon; 1984 riots victim files petition

May 22, 2026

Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh and renowned American TV host Jimmy Fallon appear to be facing mounting legal trouble. A U.S. federal court has issued a summons to both individuals following a petition filed by a victim of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

In this civil lawsuit filed in a New York District Court, the plaintiff alleges that during a TV show, Diljit touched the feet of a man (Amitabh Bachchan) who allegedly raised a slogan inciting the riots, thereby hurting the sentiments of the victims. The court has directed Diljit and Jimmy Fallon to file their responses within 21 days.

The petitioner, Mohinder Singh, claimed in court that while he managed to survive the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, his father was killed in the violence that erupted in Delhi. Taking cognizance of this petition, and in accordance with U.S. federal court procedures, notices have been issued to the defendants (Diljit and Jimmy), requiring them to submit their formal responses within 21 days.

What sparked this entire controversy?
According to the complaint, the entire matter revolves around the American television show *The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon*. It is alleged that during this show, Diljit Dosanjh touched the feet of Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan. The plaintiff contends that in 1984, following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Amitabh Bachchan allegedly raised the slogan “Blood for blood” (*Khoon ka badla khoon*), which subsequently incited anti-Sikh violence.

The petition states that Diljit Dosanjh’s act of publicly honoring and touching the feet of such an individual has reopened the wounds of the 1984 riot victims and has deeply hurt their religious and personal sentiments. Since this incident occurred on Jimmy Fallon’s show, the host has also been named as a party to the lawsuit. Reference Made to the Film ‘Jogi’

In his petition, the complainant further argued that Diljit Dosanjh is fully aware of the pain and history surrounding the anti-Sikh violence of 1984. He played the lead role in the 2022 film ‘Jogi,’ in which he himself portrayed scenes depicting this tragedy and massacre on screen. Given this context, his current action amounts to a disregard for the sentiments of the victims. For now, it remains to be seen and will become clear within the next 21 days, what defense Diljit presents before the US court regarding this matter.