New Delhi:
Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his manager Maroof have been fined Rs 15 lakh each by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). This is in addition to the over Rs 60 lakh that has already been confiscated.
Thus, the total loss is over Rs 90 lakh.
But perhaps Rahat still profited from his India visit as sources say he had about six private perfomances in two weeks here, and he's usually paid over 30 lakh for each.
Rahat and his 16-member troupe were detained at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on February 13 for allegedly carrying undeclared foreign currency worth $1.24 lakh (about Rs. 60 lakh).
As per norms, no one can carry beyond $5,000 in cash and $5,000 in other instruments. A person has to declare the amount if he is carrying more than this to the Customs Department.
On Saturday, the duo was slapped with charges under Customs Act. They will be allowed to leave the country after they pay the penalty. The money seized from Rahat and Maroof stands confiscated, officials say.
The singer and his manager have faced several rounds of questioning by the DRI officials, the latest being on Friday when they were questioned for 11 hours in New Delhi. Rahat was also quizzed for 10 hours on Thursday. Rahat and Maroof were questioned about the money recovered from them and the payments they received during their shows in the country and the mode of money transfer.
The DRI has also questioned a number of other persons in the case including his event managers.
Rahat is rated as a one of the top playback singers of the Hindi film industry 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'.