Rahat Fateh Ali Khan may get off the hook by paying a fine

Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his manager Maroof Ali may be let off with a fine for carrying undeclared foreign currency. Rajesh Ahuja reports.

Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his manager Maroof Ali may be let off with a fine for carrying undeclared foreign currency.

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Khan and Ali were caught at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on February 13 carrying an undeclared sum of $142,000 in cash and cheques when they were about to board a flight to Lahore after performing in India for 10 days.

For carrying more than $5,000 in cash and $5,000 in other instruments, one has to declare the excess amount to the customs department.

While the other 12 members of Khan's troupe were allowed to leave after initial questioning, the singer and his manager were detained.

After detaining the two at the airport, a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) team raided two premises of event manager Chitresh Srivastava in Mumbai, which resulted in the recovery of Rs 50 lakh.

Sources said Chitresh and all the other organisers who paid Khan for his shows in India would face action under the Customs Act.

After the completion of probe by the DRI, the matter was sent for adjudication to additional commissioner (customs) Ashutosh Baranwal, whose offices are at the airport. Baranwal will take a final decision on the quantum of penalty.

DRI officials questioned Khan and Ali for the fourth time along with Srivastava for about four hours on Saturday before they were taken to Baranwal's office.