Pakistani Sufi singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and aide Maroof fined

Spicezee Bureau

Mumbai: Just a day after DRI slapped charges under FEMA and Custom Act on Pakistani Sufi singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his manager Maroof in connection with recovery of huge undeclared foreign currency from them at Delhi airport, the adjudication process at Commissioner Customs (Airports) is finally over and Rahat and Maroof have to pay a penalty of Rs 10 lakh each in addition to a redemption fine of Rs 5 lakh each respectively. Rahat and Maroof will be allowed to leave the country only after they pay Rs 30 lakh as penalty to the competent authority. However, the foreign exchange will remain confiscated. Earlier, 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 to the Commissioner Customs (Airports). 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`.