Prominent Sikh Leader Jagbinderbir Singh Sandhu Claims Wrongful DWI Arrest in Keller — Questions of Racial Profiling and Police Misconduct Emerge

Keller, Texas | An investigation is now underway following the arrest of Jagbinderbir Singh Sandhu, a well-known Sikh religious figure and respected North Texas businessman, who says he was wrongfully detained and mistreated by Keller police during what should have been a routine traffic stop. Singh, who maintains that he does not consume alcohol or use any illegal substances and has never been arrested or involved in legal trouble, believes he was racially profiled and subjected to excessive, unjustified police action.

According to Singh, the incident occurred on November 9 shortly after 2:00 a.m., when he was pulled over in his Mercedes-Benz after an officer claimed he had stopped on the crosswalk lines. Singh says he fully cooperated, provided his driver’s license, and answered every question. Yet despite the minor nature of the stop, he reports that the officer immediately shifted to questioning him about whether he carried a Commercial Driver’s License — a line of inquiry Singh found irrelevant, unusual, and suggestive of biased assumptions.

Adding to the troubling details, Singh says the officer then asked him whether he was a United States citizen — a question with no apparent connection to the traffic stop, the alleged crosswalk violation, or any reasonable suspicion of impairment. He describes the inquiry as intrusive and inappropriate, reinforcing his belief that the traffic stop may have been influenced by racial or cultural bias rather than legitimate law-enforcement concerns. As a respected community leader who has lived and contributed to North Texas for years, Singh says the question felt less like routine procedure and more like an assumption based solely on his ethnicity and religious identity.

Singh reports that moments after complying with all instructions, he was ordered out of the vehicle and abruptly placed under arrest for suspicion of Driving While Intoxicated — despite being completely sober, according to his account. He further states that officers added a charge for possession of a controlled substance, referring to his own lawfully prescribed medication. He argues the combination of charges is incompatible with his lifestyle, his medical history, and his otherwise spotless record.

What Singh says happened after the arrest raises even more serious concerns. He describes the next several hours as “humiliating, freezing, and dangerous.” According to his account, he was stripped down to an undershirt and transported to a hospital in harsh, cold weather with no jacket, blanket, or protection from the elements. He says he was refused water for more than six hours, denied the ability to make a phone call, and deprived of sufficient medical attention even after his blood pressure spiked to a dangerously high level. Having never been inside a jail cell or had any interaction with law enforcement before, Singh says the experience left him feeling dehumanized and targeted.

Beyond his professional and religious roles, Singh — known affectionately throughout the community as Joga Sandhu — is a devoted father of two and an active participant in cultural, charitable, and community-driven efforts across North Texas. Community members know him as a calm, generous, and deeply compassionate figure who has spent years supporting families, youth programs, and nonprofit initiatives. He describes this incident as profoundly devastating, saying it has humiliated him publicly, damaged his good name, and caused severe emotional and psychological distress. Singh says he is “extremely traumatized” by the wrongful arrest, the treatment he endured, and the public exposure that followed — all of which have taken a serious toll on his mental health, sense of safety, and overall well-being.

A formal complaint has been filed with the Keller Police Internal Affairs Division. Singh has also submitted official requests for the body-worn camera footage, the full police report, and all associated records to determine precisely what occurred and whether the officers’ actions complied with state law, department policy, and constitutional requirements. These records will be essential in determining whether Singh’s allegations of racial profiling, improper arrest, and mistreatment in custody can be substantiated.

While Singh’s account is alarming on its own, the case raises broader questions about DWI enforcement practices in Texas. Many drivers mistakenly believe a DWI arrest requires evidence of alcohol consumption, but Texas law allows officers to arrest individuals based solely on perceived “impairment.” This subjective standard has drawn criticism for producing inconsistencies in enforcement and resulting in arrests of completely sober individuals — especially those who take prescription medication or exhibit symptoms of fatigue. Civil-rights advocates warn that these types of arrests can disproportionately impact people of color and religious minorities, who already face higher rates of traffic stops and searches.

In Singh’s case, the circumstances of the stop, the rapid escalation to arrest, and the nature of the questions he was asked raise serious concerns about whether bias — conscious or unconscious — played a role in the officer’s decision-making. Singh firmly believes that his ethnicity, religious appearance, or cultural background influenced how he was treated that night.

Internal Affairs is currently reviewing the complaint, and the release of body-camera footage is expected to provide critical insight. Legal analysts who reviewed Singh’s statements note that, if accurate, the incident may involve violations of civil rights, improper arrest procedures, and potential misconduct during custody. Singh says his goal is not only to clear his name but also to expose policing practices that can devastate the lives, reputations, and livelihoods of innocent people.

QX Global News Network will continue monitoring this case and will provide updates as more information becomes available.