Goa Minister Atanasio Monserrate let off after questioning

Apr 02, 2011 |

Mumbai/Panaji

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Goa Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate, detained by the customs at the Mumbai airport for allegedly carrying unaccounted foreign and Indian currency, was let off this evening after hours of quizzing.

The minister's associate was also released but his passport has been impounded, customs sources said.

They were detained last night for possessing undisclosed Indian and UAE currency notes, a customs official said on condition of anonymity.

"Monserrate, who was to fly to Dubai, was carrying USD 25,000 Traveller's Cheque, over 70,000 dirhams and Rs 1.25 lakh in cash," he added.

Another official in the Air Intelligence Unit of the Customs said Rs 1.16 lakh in Indian currency and equivalent of Rs 22.84 lakh in different foreign currencies were seized from the Goa politician.

In February, Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was detained at the Delhi airport for allegedly carrying about Rs 60 lakh of undeclared foreign currency. The singer and his manager Maroof were later slapped with a penalty of Rs 15 lakh.

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