Pakistani Singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan detained over undeclared foreign currency
- Thread starter Daredevil
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He was detained on his way out of India, not coming in. Could be money he was payed for his performances in India which he wanted to keep in cash and bypass Pakistani tax laws. Still violted Indian laws though
Investigators still quizzing Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was being questioned by India's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for the second day Monday, a day after he was detained at the international airport on charges of carrying undisclosed foreign currency, an official said.
'He is still being questioned and senior officials from the Pakistan High Commission have already visited our office,' an official of DRI said.
Rahat was detained at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport Sunday on his way back to Pakistan after attending concerts and award functions in India. More than $100,000 were recovered from the 15-member troupe.
According to the official, senior DRI officials questioned the popular singer till late last night but have not charged him yet.
Rahat, the nephew of legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, is popular both in India and Pakistan. Several of his hit songs from Indian films are a rage on both sides of the border, for which he has won several awards, including the recent Filmfare award for 'Dil to Bacha Hai Jee'. He was also a judge on the Indian music reality show 'Chhote Ustad'.
Pakistan has initiated hectic efforts to secure the release of singer. Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir called Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Sharat Sabarwal and discussed the matter around midnight Sunday. He requested the Indian envoy to ensure that 'no official should misbehave with Rahat during interrogation'.
Investigators still quizzing Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was being questioned by India's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for the second day Monday, a day after he was detained at the international airport on charges of carrying undisclosed foreign currency, an official said.
'He is still being questioned and senior officials from the Pakistan High Commission have already visited our office,' an official of DRI said.
Rahat was detained at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport Sunday on his way back to Pakistan after attending concerts and award functions in India. More than $100,000 were recovered from the 15-member troupe.
According to the official, senior DRI officials questioned the popular singer till late last night but have not charged him yet.
Rahat, the nephew of legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, is popular both in India and Pakistan. Several of his hit songs from Indian films are a rage on both sides of the border, for which he has won several awards, including the recent Filmfare award for 'Dil to Bacha Hai Jee'. He was also a judge on the Indian music reality show 'Chhote Ustad'.
Pakistan has initiated hectic efforts to secure the release of singer. Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir called Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Sharat Sabarwal and discussed the matter around midnight Sunday. He requested the Indian envoy to ensure that 'no official should misbehave with Rahat during interrogation'.
More details,
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan stopped at IGI airport with cash in baggage
Acclaimed Pakistani sufi singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was detained on Sunday at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport by officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence for allegedly carrying undeclared currency to the tune of 1.24 lakh US dollars, along with Pakistani and Indian currency, sources told Newsline.
Khan (37) was detained at the airport around 3.45 pm. Till the time of filing of the report, he was with DRI officials. Around 11 pm, DRI was going to begin questioning Khan and his entourage of 14 persons, officials said.
Khan was to board an Emirates flight to Karachi via Dubai (EK 517), scheduled to take off around 4 pm, when the currency was found in his baggage. Khan was here to perform at an Indo-Pakistan peace initiative.
"The questioning will go on for another five hours, at least. All the 15 are under detention. A decision on their arrest has not been taken," a source said.
As per norms, a foreign national cannot carry more than $ 5,000 in cash and $ 5,000 in other instruments — a greater amount has to be declared to the Customs Department. A person can take out of the country an amount equivalent to what he had declared on entering.
"It is a critical decision because we all know Khan is an acclaimed artiste. He did not get the money from outside, but got it while in India. The law, however, says not declaring this amount is a technical violation," a senior official said.
According to DRI sources, for his performances in India, Khan was paid in Indian rupees and dollars.
"Rahat and his troupe members are still being questioned. Depending on their statements and the gravity of the offence, we will decide whether to arrest them or not," said S Dutt Majumdar, Chairman of the Central Board of Excise and Customs.
Khan is the nephew of legendary Pakistani sufi singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan stopped at IGI airport with cash in baggage
Acclaimed Pakistani sufi singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was detained on Sunday at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport by officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence for allegedly carrying undeclared currency to the tune of 1.24 lakh US dollars, along with Pakistani and Indian currency, sources told Newsline.
Khan (37) was detained at the airport around 3.45 pm. Till the time of filing of the report, he was with DRI officials. Around 11 pm, DRI was going to begin questioning Khan and his entourage of 14 persons, officials said.
Khan was to board an Emirates flight to Karachi via Dubai (EK 517), scheduled to take off around 4 pm, when the currency was found in his baggage. Khan was here to perform at an Indo-Pakistan peace initiative.
"The questioning will go on for another five hours, at least. All the 15 are under detention. A decision on their arrest has not been taken," a source said.
As per norms, a foreign national cannot carry more than $ 5,000 in cash and $ 5,000 in other instruments — a greater amount has to be declared to the Customs Department. A person can take out of the country an amount equivalent to what he had declared on entering.
"It is a critical decision because we all know Khan is an acclaimed artiste. He did not get the money from outside, but got it while in India. The law, however, says not declaring this amount is a technical violation," a senior official said.
According to DRI sources, for his performances in India, Khan was paid in Indian rupees and dollars.
"Rahat and his troupe members are still being questioned. Depending on their statements and the gravity of the offence, we will decide whether to arrest them or not," said S Dutt Majumdar, Chairman of the Central Board of Excise and Customs.
Khan is the nephew of legendary Pakistani sufi singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
SHASH2K2
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NEW DELHI: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Monday released Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan who was detained at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday for carrying a huge amount of undisclosed foreign currency, according to TV reports.
The 37-year-old nephew of legendary Pakistani qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was released along with his two associates, Chitresh Shrivastava and Maroof, who were also detained on Sunday, the reports said.
Rahat and his associates' passports have been impounded and have been asked to appear before the DRI on Feb 17. He will not be allowed to leave India for the time being.
The DRI officials on Monday swooped at the premises of "Eyeline Telefilm and Events", owned by Chitresh, elder brother of Bollywood singer Aadesh Shrivastava, and searched the premises.
Sources privy to the investigations claimed that the sleuths found Rs 51 lakh in cash which was seized besides some documents which could be helpful in the probe being carried out by the DRI.
The sources said questioning of Chitresh was carried out on the alleged cash seizure made from his Mumbai premises.
Rahat and his entire troupe, numbering around 16, were on in their way to Lahore via Dubai by an Emirates flight.
The DRI had allegedly seized foreign currency totalling $1.24 lakh from the troupe.
Earlier, interior minister Rehman Malik called Pakistan's high commissioner in New Delhi, Shahid Malik, to inquire about the detention of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. According to a statement, Malik said he was examining the matter and had asked the Pakistani high commissioner to India to monitor the matter thoroughly.
However, media coverage of the matter has provided another burning issue for most of the Pakistanis who were already occupied with the controversy around the arrest of American citizen responsible for the killing of two persons in Lahore.
Dramatizing one liner tickers of mostly Indian news channels with strange alerting tones of breaking news, several Pakistani TV stations have confused the audience for not highlighting the legal aspects of the issue. Some channels went ahead to make an opinion as if a conspiracy was hatched by Indian intelligence agencies against the artist for maligning Pakistan.
"It is not for the first time that a Pakistani artist was mishandled in India. Earlier, Pakistani pop singer Adnan Sami went through a rigorous exercise in India and his property was confiscated by Indian authorities. Similarly, Pakistani comedian Shakeel Shiekh was threatened in Mumbai by an Indian extremist group Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)," reported a leading Pakistani news channel on Monday.
Nonetheless, scores of Khan's fans in Pakistan also condemned his act for being unlawful.
"I am an ardent fan of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. However, I do not approve of what he did. I just hope and pray it is his personal act and nothing more than that. Instead of getting emotional and making statements against each other, let the law take its course. We should have full faith in Indian judiciary in the same way as we would demand from anyone else for our judiciary," Umer Javed, a part-time singer and Islamabad-based lawyer said.
Imran Ali, another fan of Khan opined: "After becoming so popular in India, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan needed to be more cautious about their laws. Being a great admirer of Khan, I strongly condemn his act of tax evasion which earned a bad name to the country at a time when it's already struggling on several fronts."
Read more: Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan released - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...eleased/articleshow/7496164.cms#ixzz1DxZsOxWe
Oracle
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Indo-Pak thaw helps Rahat avoid arrest
NEW DELHI: Indian authorities on Monday dropped their plan to arrest Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Pakistani singing icon and Bollywood's blockbuster voice, after sustained diplomatic pressure from Pakistan on the external affairs ministry.
The decision not to arrest the singer was influenced by the fresh peace process between India and Pakistan which started only a week ago.
Rahat and his nephew Maroof Ali were freed after 24 hours of questioning by investigators from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), but their passports have been retained.
"He will appear again for questioning and will remain in the country until investigations are complete," said R K Sharma, additional director-general of DRI. He clarified that no case had been registered againt Rahat yet. "Only after investigations, relevant provisions of Customs Act and FEMA rules will be invoked against them," he said.
Rahat and Maroof were caught carrying over $142,600 (Rs 64 lakh) at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday night.
Both the Customs Act and FEMA have provisions for arrest that could certainly have been invoked against an Indian caught in the same circumstance as Rahat. But with Pakistan seeking to turn his detention into a test case of India's desire for revival of dialogue, Rahat and others detained with him may get away by paying penalty provided for under the relevant laws.
In Mumbai, DRI sleuths raided the event management company responsible for Rahat's musical events and some hawala dealers believed to have exchanged dollars for him illegally. Chitresh Srivastava, who runs this company, has been summoned for questioning after officials found Rs 51 lakh in cash in his possession.
Pakistan government got into overdrive on Monday morning with foreign secretary Salman Bashir calling in Sharat Sabharwal, Indian high commissioner in Islamabad, asking for the immediate release of the singer.
Pakistan interior minister Rehman Malik called the Pakistan high commissioner here to ask for more action. The Pakistan high commission formed a task force to follow events but despite their best efforts, they failed to get access to the singer who was kept in detention. According to the rules, they could have asked for access if he had been formally arrested. Malik in turn rang up Vivek Katju, acting foreign secretary, asking for Rahat's release.
Within the Indian foreign policy establishment, the general feeling was that the high profile singer could be questioned without having to be kept in detention. At risk would be the PM's latest effort to mend fences with Pakistan, because Rahat is not only one of Bollywood's most popular singers, in many ways, he is also the voice of all the attempts to foster India-Pakistan peace.
The duo was detained at IGI airport on Sunday evening and later brought to DRI office at CGO complex in the capital. The questioning continued overnight. Sources said Rahat agreed to pay a spot penalty and appear for interrogation whenever summoned by DRI officials relating to the case.
Rahat and his aide were found in illegal possession of $50,000 in their check in baggage and Maroof had an additional $24,000 in hand baggage along with two bank drafts totaling $18,000. Sources said there were several counts under which Rahat could be booked. Under the Customs Act, a penalty of up to five times of the amount seized on a person carrying illegal foreign exchange can be imposed and under FEMA, there is a penalty provision of upto three times. In this case, a penalty under both the Customs Act and FEMA can be imposed.
Under section 132 & 135 of the Customs Act and Section 3 and 4 of FEMA, any individual illegally acquiring or carrying foreign exchange beyond the permissible limit — $5,000 in cash per person and bank papers not exceeding $5,000 — can be arrested in addition to a penalty. In this case, a senior Customs official said, had it been an Indian of any stature, arrest was inescapable.
Sources said Rahat told his interrogators that he had carried lesser amounts of foreign exchange on previous occasions too, but managed to evade detention.
For Pakistan, reeling under the diplomatic difficulties caused by the arrest of a US diplomat on a murder charge, events like this involving iconic Pakistani figures can send shockwaves through their system. In earlier days, ghazal singer Ghulam Ali has been under the scanner a number of times, but his popularity is nowhere close to what Rahat enjoys in India.
Source
NEW DELHI: Indian authorities on Monday dropped their plan to arrest Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Pakistani singing icon and Bollywood's blockbuster voice, after sustained diplomatic pressure from Pakistan on the external affairs ministry.
The decision not to arrest the singer was influenced by the fresh peace process between India and Pakistan which started only a week ago.
Rahat and his nephew Maroof Ali were freed after 24 hours of questioning by investigators from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), but their passports have been retained.
"He will appear again for questioning and will remain in the country until investigations are complete," said R K Sharma, additional director-general of DRI. He clarified that no case had been registered againt Rahat yet. "Only after investigations, relevant provisions of Customs Act and FEMA rules will be invoked against them," he said.
Rahat and Maroof were caught carrying over $142,600 (Rs 64 lakh) at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday night.
Both the Customs Act and FEMA have provisions for arrest that could certainly have been invoked against an Indian caught in the same circumstance as Rahat. But with Pakistan seeking to turn his detention into a test case of India's desire for revival of dialogue, Rahat and others detained with him may get away by paying penalty provided for under the relevant laws.
In Mumbai, DRI sleuths raided the event management company responsible for Rahat's musical events and some hawala dealers believed to have exchanged dollars for him illegally. Chitresh Srivastava, who runs this company, has been summoned for questioning after officials found Rs 51 lakh in cash in his possession.
Pakistan government got into overdrive on Monday morning with foreign secretary Salman Bashir calling in Sharat Sabharwal, Indian high commissioner in Islamabad, asking for the immediate release of the singer.
Pakistan interior minister Rehman Malik called the Pakistan high commissioner here to ask for more action. The Pakistan high commission formed a task force to follow events but despite their best efforts, they failed to get access to the singer who was kept in detention. According to the rules, they could have asked for access if he had been formally arrested. Malik in turn rang up Vivek Katju, acting foreign secretary, asking for Rahat's release.
Within the Indian foreign policy establishment, the general feeling was that the high profile singer could be questioned without having to be kept in detention. At risk would be the PM's latest effort to mend fences with Pakistan, because Rahat is not only one of Bollywood's most popular singers, in many ways, he is also the voice of all the attempts to foster India-Pakistan peace.
The duo was detained at IGI airport on Sunday evening and later brought to DRI office at CGO complex in the capital. The questioning continued overnight. Sources said Rahat agreed to pay a spot penalty and appear for interrogation whenever summoned by DRI officials relating to the case.
Rahat and his aide were found in illegal possession of $50,000 in their check in baggage and Maroof had an additional $24,000 in hand baggage along with two bank drafts totaling $18,000. Sources said there were several counts under which Rahat could be booked. Under the Customs Act, a penalty of up to five times of the amount seized on a person carrying illegal foreign exchange can be imposed and under FEMA, there is a penalty provision of upto three times. In this case, a penalty under both the Customs Act and FEMA can be imposed.
Under section 132 & 135 of the Customs Act and Section 3 and 4 of FEMA, any individual illegally acquiring or carrying foreign exchange beyond the permissible limit — $5,000 in cash per person and bank papers not exceeding $5,000 — can be arrested in addition to a penalty. In this case, a senior Customs official said, had it been an Indian of any stature, arrest was inescapable.
Sources said Rahat told his interrogators that he had carried lesser amounts of foreign exchange on previous occasions too, but managed to evade detention.
For Pakistan, reeling under the diplomatic difficulties caused by the arrest of a US diplomat on a murder charge, events like this involving iconic Pakistani figures can send shockwaves through their system. In earlier days, ghazal singer Ghulam Ali has been under the scanner a number of times, but his popularity is nowhere close to what Rahat enjoys in India.
Source
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On Times Now debate, I was shocked to note that the Geo TV CEO or whatever, was brazen enough to state that the singer being a Celebrity was different from the common man and should have been allowed to go, more so he felt since some Aman ka pizzazz was going on!
Great! In Pakistan, they have one set of law for the Celebrity and one sort of law for the common man!
So, Raja is not at fault, right?
Great! In Pakistan, they have one set of law for the Celebrity and one sort of law for the common man!
So, Raja is not at fault, right?
Oracle
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In Pakistan and according to the views of most Pakistanis, laws are like a parasite. It attaches itself to the body of the weakest link and thrives on the nutrition provided by the host, while killing the host slowly. So, Geo TV CEO or a vegetable vendor, educated or illiterate - everything that happens in India or against Pakistanis anywhere, is a conspiracy and is in the wrong side of their account of law. Wonder why Pakistan is going down the p!$$ drain for 60+ years of it's existence.
Oracle
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Rahat's arrest: Pak media goes into overdrive
ISLAMABAD: Around the time Pakistani authorities were sweating it out to get popular Sufi singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan out of the clutches of Indian inspectors for trying to squirrel out foreign currency, television channels here on Monday were into an overdrive playing the news of his "arrest" throughout the day.
With Pakistani cricketers on the wrong side of British law for spot-fixing, many Pakistanis thought l'affaire Rahat was all that they needed to show how low the country's self-esteem had sunk.
However, dramatic one-liners from Indian news channels with strange alert tones — without any useful information — left the Pakistani audience confused. There was no clarity on the legal aspects surrounding Rahat's questioning and release. Some channels typically blamed Indian intelligence agencies for conspiring against the singer to malign Pakistan.
A leading Pakistani channel pointed out how another Pakistani artist, Adnan Sami, went through legal problems with his property being confiscated by Indian authorities. It also recalled how actor Shakeel Sheikh got threats in Mumbai from the jingoistic Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
Nonetheless, many also criticized Rahat for not showing due respect to the law. "I am an ardent follower of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. But, I don't approve of what he did. Instead of getting emotional and commenting against each other, let the law take its course. We should have faith in the Indian judiciary the same way as we would expect from anyone else of our own judiciary," said Umer Javed, an Islamabad-based lawyer.
Another Rahat fan Imran Ali said, "After becoming so popular in India, Rahat needed to be more cautious about Indian laws. Being a great admirer of Rahat, I strongly condemn his act of tax evasion which has earned Pakistan a bad name."
The Pakistani media coverage of Rahat's detention nearly upstaged another burning issue for most Pakistanis: the Raymond Davis incident in which the American official shot dead two people in a busy Lahore street last month — ostensibly in self-defence.
Source
ISLAMABAD: Around the time Pakistani authorities were sweating it out to get popular Sufi singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan out of the clutches of Indian inspectors for trying to squirrel out foreign currency, television channels here on Monday were into an overdrive playing the news of his "arrest" throughout the day.
With Pakistani cricketers on the wrong side of British law for spot-fixing, many Pakistanis thought l'affaire Rahat was all that they needed to show how low the country's self-esteem had sunk.
However, dramatic one-liners from Indian news channels with strange alert tones — without any useful information — left the Pakistani audience confused. There was no clarity on the legal aspects surrounding Rahat's questioning and release. Some channels typically blamed Indian intelligence agencies for conspiring against the singer to malign Pakistan.
A leading Pakistani channel pointed out how another Pakistani artist, Adnan Sami, went through legal problems with his property being confiscated by Indian authorities. It also recalled how actor Shakeel Sheikh got threats in Mumbai from the jingoistic Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
Nonetheless, many also criticized Rahat for not showing due respect to the law. "I am an ardent follower of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. But, I don't approve of what he did. Instead of getting emotional and commenting against each other, let the law take its course. We should have faith in the Indian judiciary the same way as we would expect from anyone else of our own judiciary," said Umer Javed, an Islamabad-based lawyer.
Another Rahat fan Imran Ali said, "After becoming so popular in India, Rahat needed to be more cautious about Indian laws. Being a great admirer of Rahat, I strongly condemn his act of tax evasion which has earned Pakistan a bad name."
The Pakistani media coverage of Rahat's detention nearly upstaged another burning issue for most Pakistanis: the Raymond Davis incident in which the American official shot dead two people in a busy Lahore street last month — ostensibly in self-defence.
Source
Oracle
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Rahat Fateh Ali Khan paid Rs 15L per song on the sly: DRI
MUMBAI: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan sang in Hindi movies for free as a goodwill gesture, according to documents found at the home of his event manager Chitresh Srivastav, officials said on Monday. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials, however, don't believe these and say payments of Rs 15 lakh per song were made surreptitiously.
DRI officials searched Srivastav's Oshiwara residence and Lokhandwala office on Monday and found copies of agreements between film producers and Khan where he sang without charging a fee. Two of these movies had won critical acclaim. Officials also found Rs 50 lakh and $5,000 during the search.
Srivastav's Eyeline Telefilm and Events handled Khan for a show organized by religious leader Rakesh Maharaj in South Africa in October 2010. A diary found during the search also showed cash payments to several Bollywood artists which, officials believe, are not accounted for. One is a former actress, still renowned for her dance, and another actress known for her item numbers.
A controversial bhangra singer's name was in the diary too, said sources.
Officials say for shows overseas, organizers pay only part of the fee to artists to reduce the tax burden. They have to show remittances which are taxable. In India, they collect the balance in cash and dodge taxes.
Source
MUMBAI: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan sang in Hindi movies for free as a goodwill gesture, according to documents found at the home of his event manager Chitresh Srivastav, officials said on Monday. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials, however, don't believe these and say payments of Rs 15 lakh per song were made surreptitiously.
DRI officials searched Srivastav's Oshiwara residence and Lokhandwala office on Monday and found copies of agreements between film producers and Khan where he sang without charging a fee. Two of these movies had won critical acclaim. Officials also found Rs 50 lakh and $5,000 during the search.
Srivastav's Eyeline Telefilm and Events handled Khan for a show organized by religious leader Rakesh Maharaj in South Africa in October 2010. A diary found during the search also showed cash payments to several Bollywood artists which, officials believe, are not accounted for. One is a former actress, still renowned for her dance, and another actress known for her item numbers.
A controversial bhangra singer's name was in the diary too, said sources.
Officials say for shows overseas, organizers pay only part of the fee to artists to reduce the tax burden. They have to show remittances which are taxable. In India, they collect the balance in cash and dodge taxes.
Source
SHASH2K2
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Pak minister thanks Chidambaram for Rahat Fateh Ali's release
NEW DELHI: Pakistan Interior Minister Rahman Malik today thanked Home Minister P Chidambaram for the release of noted singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who was detained by revenue enforcement authorities at the Delhi airport for allegedly carrying $1.24 lakh on Sunday.
Sources said Malik telephoned Chidambaram and thanked him for the release of the singer, who was freed from detention yesterday evening after questioning by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials.
Rahat, whose passport has been seized, has been asked to report to the DRI officials again on Thursday for further questioning.
Officials claimed to have seized USD 1.24 lakh in cash and two demand drafts for over USD 18,600, from Rahat and some of the members of his troupe on Sunday when they were planning to catch a flight to Dubai for onward journey to Karachi.
Carrying enormous amounts of money without declaration is an offence under customs rules and could attract charges under Foreign Exchange Management Act.
Read more: Pak minister thanks Chidambaram for Rahat Fateh Ali's release - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...release/articleshow/7501851.cms#ixzz1E1x8CsD3
NEW DELHI: Pakistan Interior Minister Rahman Malik today thanked Home Minister P Chidambaram for the release of noted singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who was detained by revenue enforcement authorities at the Delhi airport for allegedly carrying $1.24 lakh on Sunday.
Sources said Malik telephoned Chidambaram and thanked him for the release of the singer, who was freed from detention yesterday evening after questioning by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials.
Rahat, whose passport has been seized, has been asked to report to the DRI officials again on Thursday for further questioning.
Officials claimed to have seized USD 1.24 lakh in cash and two demand drafts for over USD 18,600, from Rahat and some of the members of his troupe on Sunday when they were planning to catch a flight to Dubai for onward journey to Karachi.
Carrying enormous amounts of money without declaration is an offence under customs rules and could attract charges under Foreign Exchange Management Act.
Read more: Pak minister thanks Chidambaram for Rahat Fateh Ali's release - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...release/articleshow/7501851.cms#ixzz1E1x8CsD3
sandeepdg
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Yeah mate, no wonder their country is in the dumps
venkat
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How come ppl from pakistan find their way so easily in to bollywood!!!!Hundreds of talented Indians have died on the pavements of mumbai in search of elusive Bollywood glory .Some leaders only purred never took any action!!!Adnan sami,mohsin khan,salma Agha, nusrat fateh ali khan, Zeba, Ghulam Ali and Raht fateh Ali khan...etc..etc...is it because of Khans,Akhtars and of course the "DON"??
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you are paranoid. if he was shit then you would have a point!
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It's because, they have established talent. The thousands of young hopefuls on Mumbai's streets don't.
That said, I want a tougher line when ever they break our laws. To hell with the P@kistani government and all its media twits!
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It does not matter if Khans or Mukherjees flood the Bombay film scene and the Indian music world.
If they don't have talent, they will not survive.
However, whoever they may be, if they break the law, then they must take it on the chin!
If they don't have talent, they will not survive.
However, whoever they may be, if they break the law, then they must take it on the chin!
Oracle
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Troubles not yet over for Rahat; ED, I-T to join probe
The Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax department will soon approach the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to garner information about the source of foreign currency recovered from Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.
Official sources said the ED will focus on the event managers and will also issue summons to them under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to explain how they got the foreign exchange that was paid to the singer.
The Directorate will also look into whether the event managers had prior clearance to make such payments in foreign currency.
The Income Tax department will seek details of a diary seized from the possession of event manager Chitresh Shrivastava which allegedly contained names of some Bollywood stars.
Rahat (37) along with his manager Maaroof and Shrivastava was detained on February 14 at the IGI airport after $1.24 lakh was allegedly recovered from their possession.
DRI also conducted searches on the premises of "Eyeline Telefilm and Events" in Mumbai [ Images ], owned by Chitresh, elder brother of Bollywood singer Aadesh Shrivastava.
Sources privy to the investigations had claimed that the sleuths found Rs 51 lakh in cash, which was seized besides some documents. The Income Tax department will also look into the source of the money seized from the firm's premises.
The DRI has summoned the singer to appear before it on February 17.
Source
The Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax department will soon approach the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to garner information about the source of foreign currency recovered from Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.
Official sources said the ED will focus on the event managers and will also issue summons to them under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to explain how they got the foreign exchange that was paid to the singer.
The Directorate will also look into whether the event managers had prior clearance to make such payments in foreign currency.
The Income Tax department will seek details of a diary seized from the possession of event manager Chitresh Shrivastava which allegedly contained names of some Bollywood stars.
Rahat (37) along with his manager Maaroof and Shrivastava was detained on February 14 at the IGI airport after $1.24 lakh was allegedly recovered from their possession.
DRI also conducted searches on the premises of "Eyeline Telefilm and Events" in Mumbai [ Images ], owned by Chitresh, elder brother of Bollywood singer Aadesh Shrivastava.
Sources privy to the investigations had claimed that the sleuths found Rs 51 lakh in cash, which was seized besides some documents. The Income Tax department will also look into the source of the money seized from the firm's premises.
The DRI has summoned the singer to appear before it on February 17.
Source
Oracle
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Rahat appears before DRI, hands over contract details
Noted Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who was released from detention on Monday, visited the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on Thursday along with his two aides Maroof and Chitresh Shirivastava.
The singer was detained at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport on Sunday by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials after he and two of his troupe members were caught allegedly carrying $1.24 lakh (about Rs 60 lakh) in undeclared foreign currency.
The DRI quizzed the famous Pakistani singer for about 28 hours for carrying a huge amount of undeclared foreign currency before he 'had to be relased'.
On Thursday, the singer handed over contract details for his show in India to DRI sleuths.
DRI officials acted on a tip-off and detained Khan when he was clearing customs. They found US $24,000 in Khan's hand baggage and $25,000 each on two of his troupe members.
Another $50,000 was recovered from his checked in luggage. In addition, Khan also had some Pakistani currency. Legally, Khan is allowed to carry US $10,000 -- in cash, bank drafts and traveler's cheques without declaring.
Rahat had reportedly told his interrogators that Event Manager Chitresh had allegedly handed over money to him at the airport before he was to board the Emirates Delhi-Lahore-Dubai flight.
Chitresh now has to explain how the currency conversion was done and give the name of the agency used for carrying out the exchange. The DRI officials claim that the currency conversion of money was not done through any bank.
Source
Noted Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who was released from detention on Monday, visited the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on Thursday along with his two aides Maroof and Chitresh Shirivastava.
The singer was detained at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport on Sunday by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials after he and two of his troupe members were caught allegedly carrying $1.24 lakh (about Rs 60 lakh) in undeclared foreign currency.
The DRI quizzed the famous Pakistani singer for about 28 hours for carrying a huge amount of undeclared foreign currency before he 'had to be relased'.
On Thursday, the singer handed over contract details for his show in India to DRI sleuths.
DRI officials acted on a tip-off and detained Khan when he was clearing customs. They found US $24,000 in Khan's hand baggage and $25,000 each on two of his troupe members.
Another $50,000 was recovered from his checked in luggage. In addition, Khan also had some Pakistani currency. Legally, Khan is allowed to carry US $10,000 -- in cash, bank drafts and traveler's cheques without declaring.
Rahat had reportedly told his interrogators that Event Manager Chitresh had allegedly handed over money to him at the airport before he was to board the Emirates Delhi-Lahore-Dubai flight.
Chitresh now has to explain how the currency conversion was done and give the name of the agency used for carrying out the exchange. The DRI officials claim that the currency conversion of money was not done through any bank.
Source
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Vikramaditya
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Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has done this type of transaction 3 times before he caught in IGI,he conference : NDTV
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