Cash case: Singer Rahat's India stay to be extended

Feb 15, 2011 |

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Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

New Delhi: The visa of Pakistani sufi singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has expired and the government was going to extend it till the investigation into the alleged recovery of 1.24 lakh US dollars from him and other members of his troupe at the IGI airport here was complete.

"His visa has expired. His visa will be extended and we hope that post February 17, there could be adjudication proceeding and we hope that the matter would be resolved," Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai told reporters on the sidelines of a book release function today.

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) was, meanwhile, probing the source of foreign exchange worth Rs 60 lakh recovered from Rahat and two others - Maroof (manager of the singer) and Chitresh Shrivastava (owner of an event management company). They were released last night after remaining in detention for nearly 24 hours.

The singer has been asked to appear before DRI on February 17.

Rahat (37) along with Maaroof and Shrivastava were detained on Sunday from Indira Gandhi International Airport while they were on their way to Lahore via Dubai after the alleged undeclared money was recovered from them.

The officials subjected the singer to the questioning while searches were conducted simultaneously on the premises of "Eyeline Telefilm and Events" in Mumbai, owned by Chitresh, elder brother of Bollywood singer Aadesh Shrivastava.

Chitresh will have to explain Rs 51 lakh unaccounted cash also that was recovered from his office in Mumbai yesterday.

As per norms, no one can carry beyond USD 5,000 in cash and USD 5,000 in other instruments. The person has to declare the amount if he is carrying more than this to the Customs Department.

Rahat and his entire troupe, numbering around 16, were detained by the authorities while they were on their way to Lahore from Dubai by an Emirates flight.

Nephew of noted Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat is rated as one of the top playback singers of Bollywood and 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'.

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