Pakistan

Rahat Fateh, manager each fined $34,000

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his manager Maroof will each have to pay $34,000 as a fine.

Aditi Phadnis February 21, 2011

NEW DEHLI: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his manager Maroof will each have to pay $34,000 as a fine to Indian authorities in order to get their passports back.

The fine was imposed by the customs department of the Indian government, which was investigating the allegation that the singer was attempting to carry a large amount of cash out of India without declaring it at customs, in violation of Indian laws. The singer and his manager were arrested at Delhi Airport.

Both the singer and his manager will be allowed to leave the country, subject to the condition that they pay the fine.

The Indian government has also confiscated the qawwali singer’s earnings from his concerts in India as well as the nearly $124,000 in cash and bank drafts that the two were attempting to carry out of India

Khan and his manager’s passports were withheld pending a probe by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). After completing its probe, the DRI charged them with violating provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and Customs Act and sent the matter for adjudication to Customs which found them guilty of the infringement.

The DRI unearthed a domestic network of foreign exchange smugglers and are in the process of investigating any potential linkages between these smugglers and Khan. Event manager Chitresh Shrivastava is under detention, and enquiries against two foreign exchange dealers of Mumbai, would continue, the sources said.

It could take a few days for Khan and Maroof to arrange the money and make the payments.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2011.

COMMENTS (14)

RK | 13 years ago | Reply Hi, I am indian, i went to india for vacation from canada i brought some electionic goods, even i was checked in india for carrying the goods worth of $5,000.00 i did paid the customs duty, We have to follows the rules and regulation no exception. Please try to understand dont misguide the people in this matter, This is umble request.

Kabir | 13 years ago | Reply In the topsy-turvy world we live in, committing a wrong is not wrong; getting caught being in the wrong is wrong.

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Faizaan | 13 years ago | Reply @arpit: There are few points: The money he was taking was his hard earned money, paid to him by the event managers who had earned and benefitted 10 fold from Rahat Saahib's performance. I agree that he should have not violated Indian law, but the question is that he alongwith many singers have been performing in India and I am sure not for free, so for so many years, how come he was permitted to do so? As a Pakistani i feel its a regrettable incident and our performers should be aware of and be careful when abroad and especially in India where there are forces working against Indo-Pak relationship

Jawed | 13 years ago | Reply @farhad ali: R u sure? We use, make them work and pay.......say get lost.

Amit | 13 years ago | Reply Imagine a similar situation with an Indian celebrity being caught at any pak airport?? Then every conspiracy theory would have made its round right from your government, to the talk shows. First thing that you all will say is that Raw is involved and many more mindless therories. See how well this has been handled by not only the indian Govt, but also the customs, revenue and Intelligence agencies.

Ashish | 13 years ago | Reply Dear Brothers, Why we have developed the mentality of looking sucpision in each and every bridge which bring these 2 countries togather such as music : Why cant we allow law to take its own course : We both know that both side of border we have people who breaches the law and we both want the adequate measure has to be taken then weather its Rahat or Raja, Lets join our hands togather in condeming all illegal act on both side...........Trust me we sincerely need to do this.

Raqib Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Who cares??

Kamil Bashir | 13 years ago | Reply Well, Rahat Fateh Ali is a great singer but he has broken the laws and he should pay for it. If ordinary Pakistanis are rotting in Indian jails then why not Rahat? Rahat also shows the signs of our society. We, be Indians or Pakistanis, have become corrupt as a nation but expect our singers/cricketers to be saints!

farhad ali | 13 years ago | Reply all the indians are jealous of rahat that,s why they are doing so. it,s not good. indians have to pay for it. because we all pakistanis lover him

Umayr Masud | 13 years ago | Reply The same news being reported in indian media as "http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rahat-rues-letting-down-legion-of-fans-in-India/articleshow/7536591.cms"

karachiite | 13 years ago | Reply A few songs dont make you above the law mitwaaaaaa

M.ilyas | 13 years ago | Reply its realy wrong by Hindu Government. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is a great man. we all love n proud on their job. all d indian singer jalious with him, thats why they do like that. its a very bad by indian people n imigration. Ilyas from pakistan .

arpit | 13 years ago | Reply whatever that he were taking a cash in to his country, apart all of this he is very good man and outstaniding singer i think on one can be good than him in this genration.

Ajith | 13 years ago | Reply He should be thankful to the Indian Govt. that though this is such a serious offence, he has been treated well and being let off with small fine. It is also good to remember here that thought every one is equal in front of the law, a rare exception is made here for the sake of goodwill. One thing is for sure, he has let his fans down very badly. This should be a lesson to anyone who is in the business of creating black money and robbing the Government of revenues that rightfully should belong to the people.

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