Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Detained and Released by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Detained and Released byDirectorate of Revenue Intelligence -



Updated on Monday, February 21, 2011

The Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his troupe were stopped by officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence [DRI] on Sunday for carrying $1, 24,000 or over Rs.60 Lakh in their baggage at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport


Rahat and his entire troupe, numbering around 16, were on in their way to Lahore via Dubai by an Emirates flight.

"We haven't arrested him, we are questioning him. Can't tell you about the evidence.
Two others are also being questioned," said DRI Director General Vijai Lakshmi Sharma.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan detained for allegedly carrying over $1 lakh of undeclared cash, was released after nearly 30 hours.

But the Pakistani singer has not been given a clean chit and his passport has been seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

Rahat and two others - Maroof and Chitresh Shrivastava - have been asked to appear before the DRI on February 17 again.
He will not be allowed to leave India for the time being.

Chitresh Shrivastava, elder brother of Bollywood singer Aadesh Shrivastava, was also questioned by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in Delhi.

DRI officials conducted raids at the premises of "Eyeline Telefilm and Events", owned by Chitresh and found Rs. 51 lakh in cash which was seized along with some documents.

DRI officials searched Srivastav's Oshiwara residence and Lokhandwala office.

A diary found during the search also showed cash payments to several Bollywood artists which, officials believe, are not accounted for.


Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is a nephew of Pakistani singing legend Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

During his interrogation, Rahat told the DRI officials that he is a school dropout and hence not familiar with the laws.

DRI officials say that Rahat Fateh Ali Khan sang in Hindi movies for free according to documents found at the home of his event manager Chitresh Srivastav.
But DRI officials do not believe this and say that may be he was paid per song 15 Lakh.

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 and later in India they collect the remaining part of money.

Ignorance of law is not excuse.

According to Indian laws one cannot carry more than $5000 in cash and another $10,000 in travellers' cheques without declaring the reason for it.

Media has reported that this is not first time this happened, in past also singer had tried to take large cash amounts to Pakistan.
He had been warned a few times earlier but this time officials decided to formally question him.
They wanted to see if he was involved in any sort of money laundering.

Now DRI and Custom officials have to check that how Rahat was paid in American currency?
From where this money came?
Is it Hawala Racket or case of money laundering?
Is it just a mistake, lack of knowledge?

Currently government officials are investigating the source of the money that the singer was carrying.

Updated On - Saturday, February 19, 2011

Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his manager Maroof has been charged under Customs Act for carrying undeclared foreign currency.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) will now confiscate the currency
And the matter will go to a quasi-judicial authority headed by a Customs officer.

Quasi-judicial authority will go through charges and will fix, give the penalty after that
Penalty they will pay the penalty and will be free to leave.

Still it is not clear, who paid money, from where the foreign currency came,
Was it a black money given by any Indian Person to Rahat?

Updated on Monday, February 21, 2011
Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his manager Maroof have been slapped with a penalty of Rs 15 lakh each under the Customs Act by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
Before this already Rs. Sixty Lakh was already confiscated thus total loss amounts to
Rs.90 Lakh.
But still he is in profits as Media has reported that he is paid Rs.30 Lakh for each performance and in 2 weeks of time he has done 6 shows.

Reality views by sm –
Tuesday, February 15, 2011