Rahat Fateh, manager fined Rs 15 lakh each

NEW DELHI: Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his manager Maroof have been fined Rs 15 lakh each for carrying undeclared foreign currency. They will be allowed to leave the country after paying the penalty imposed on them by the Customs Department.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence ( DRI) had detained them at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here on February 13 with allegedly undeclared amount of $1.24 lakh (nearly Rs 60 lakh) and some other instruments in foreign currency. They were taking an Emirates flight to Dubai to get to Lahore when they were detained and charged under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and Customs Act.

Anyone carrying beyond $5,000 in cash and $5,000 in other instruments has to declare the amount to the Customs Department, as per rules. The DRI had questioned Rahat and Maroof about the money recovered and payments received during their shows in the country and the mode of money transfer. Several others, including event managers, were also questioned by the DRI. Authorities in Mumbai had searched the premises of Eyeline Telefilms and Events owned by Rahat’s Indian event manager Chitresh Shrivastava. Chitresh, brother of Bollywood music director Aadesh Shrivastava, was also detained on Sunday night along with Rahat and his 16-member troupe.

Rahat’s release after a daylong questioning had followed aggressive diplomatic efforts by Pakistan to end his “protective custody.” Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir spoke to the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad to seek an immediate end to detention of the Sufi singer. High Commission officials were also seen at the DRI’s premises here.