Sufi Singer Rahat DRI slaps FEMA on Rahat and manager; probe over

New Delhi(PTI) - The Directorate of Revenue
Intelligence on Saturday slapped the charges of FEMA and
Customs Act violation against Pakistani Sufi Singer Rahat
Fateh Ali Khan and his manager Maroof in connection with
the recovery of huge undeclared foreign currency from them at
the airport here.
The DRI, which detained the duo from Indira Gandhi
International Airport on February 13 with allegedly undeclared
USD 1.24 lakh (nearly Rs 60 Lakh) and some other instruments
too in foreign currency, has completed its probe and sent the
matter for adjudication which will be done by the Commissioner
Customs (Airports), official sources said.
The Commissioner may impose heavy penalty on the duo for
the violations of the law, they said.
The investigations against event manager Chitresh
Shrivastava, who is also under detention, and two foreign
exchange dealers of Mumbai, would continue, the sources said.
The agency had conducted the exhaustive questioning of
Rahat (37) and Maroof about the money, regarding payments
received during their shows in the country and channels of
money transfer. It had also questioned a number of other
persons in the case which included his event managers.
Meanwhile, the agency sleuths had also swooped down the
premises of "Eyeline Telefilm and Events" in Mumbai, owned by
Chitresh Shrivastava, elder brother of Bollywood singer Aadesh
Shrivastava, and searched the premises, they said.
Sources privy to the investigations claimed the sleuths
found Rs 51 lakh in cash from the company which was seized
besides some documents which could be helpful in the probe
being carried out by the DRI.
Rahat and his entire 16-member troupe, including Maroof
and the event manager, were detained by the authorities. The
troupe was on in its way to Lahore via Dubai.
As per norms, no one can carry beyond USD 5,000 in cash
and USD 5,000 in other instruments. A person has to declare
the amount if he is carrying more than this to the Customs
Department.
According to sources, the payments by an event manager
to Rahat were made in Indian currency and US dollars and these
people were allegedly found converting the dollars to Indian
rupees "through unauthorised channels".
Rahat is rated as a one of the top playback singers of
Hindi film industry who has several hit numbers to his credit.
He won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer this
year for 'Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji' from the movie 'Ishqiya'.