Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan charged under Customs Act

[The HBS Guy]

Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan charged under Customs Act

Pakistani Sufi singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was today charged under the Customs Act by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for allegedly carrying undeclared foreign currency.

The DRI slapped the Customs Act against the Pakistani singer and his manager Maroof in connection with recovery of huge undeclared foreign currency from them at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here on February 13, the sources said.

The DRI had detained them from the IGI Airport on with allegedly undeclared foreign currency worth Rs 60 lakh, they said.

The Directorate, after completing the probe, has sent the matter for adjudication to the Commissioner Customs (Airports). The Commissioner may impose heavy penalty on them for the violations of the law.

The DRI had questioned the Pakistani singer for several hours on Thursday and yesterday.

Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan charged under Customs Act | NetIndian | India News | Latest News from India | Breaking News from India | Latest Headlines

 

[Capt.Popeye]

The evidence so far and the admissions by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan indicate illegal transfer of funds under FEMA, non-declaration under the Customs Act and tax evasion under Income Tax Act. All are economic offences. He will pay a fine and penalty and then return home, no chance of any imprisonment.
The people in India who paid him and who helped/facilitated the payment will be investigated further and be prosecuted.

 

[Bang Galore]

DRI slaps FEMA on Rahat and manager; probe over

New Delhi, Feb 19 (PTI) Pakistani Sufi singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his manager Maroof were today slapped with charges under FEMA and Customs Act in connection with recovery of huge undeclared foreign currency from them at the airport here before they were to board a Dubai flight.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence 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 duo will be allowed to leave the country after they pay a penalty to be determined by the Commissioner. The foreign exchange will remain confiscated, the sources 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 questioned Rahat (37) and Maroof about the money recovered and payments received during their shows in the country and the mode 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 raided the premises of "Eyeline Telefilm and Events" in Mumbai, owned by Chitresh Shrivastava, elder brother of Bollywood singer Aadesh Shrivastava.

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. Rahat was quizzed by DRI officials for 10 hours on Thursday.

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'' and his first Bollywood hit was ''Laagi Tumse Mann Ki Lagan'' from the film ''Paap''.

DRI slaps FEMA on Rahat and manager; probe over - Yahoo! News

 

[rangbaaz]

Why would he not declare that much money? It's a lot of money Mr. Khan.

 

[Awesome]

Rahat is returning on Sunday... haha they have given him an option to pay 3x the amount and get his money back But I doubt USD 300,000 is a big amount for someone like Rahat not worth spoiling his contracts in India.

Anyway, good that he got caught, he should be re-fined when he comes to Pakistan for evading Pakistani remittance channels.

 

[rockstarIN]

Now he will be under the scanner whenever he comes India, so better pay penalty and continue his career.

 

[StingRoy]

India should take this incident as an eye opener and clean up the whole Bollywood fraternity. There have been a lot of tax evasion cases within India and people taking cash or kind as payments to avoid taxes.

 

[GORKHALI]

Rahat is returning on Sunday... haha they have given him an option to pay 3x the amount and get his money back But I doubt USD 300,000 is a big amount for someone like Rahat not worth spoiling his contracts in India.

Anyway, good that he got caught, he should be re-fined when he comes to Pakistan for evading Pakistani remittance channels.

RAHAT Ji ko thoda to rahat do aap