Rahat freed but can't leave India

Earlier, Rahat and two members of his troupe were detained at Indira Gandhi International Airport here on Sunday for allegedly carrying $ 124,000 in undeclared foreign currency. The troupe members were also released on Monday.

The DRI, however, did not give any clean chit to Rahat and barred him from leaving India, as it was not yet convinced by his explanations about the foreign currency. It is likely to probe further to ascertain if the money Rahat and his troupe were carrying had any links to illegal hawala transactions.

Rahat, the nephew of the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, is a successful playback singer in Bollywood and has several hit numbers to his credit.

The singer is understood to have told the DRI officials that the money he was carrying in foreign currency belonged to his 20-member troupe. His explanation, however, failed to convince the agency’s sleuths, who are likely to continue probing the source of the money.
The agency raided the office of event management company Eyeline Telefilm and Events in Mumbai on Monday in connection with the case. The company is owned by Chitresh Shrivastava, elder brother of Bollywood singer Aadesh Shrivastava. Chitresh was also detained with Rahat on Sunday.

Rahat and others in his troupe were detained by DRI sleuths on Sunday when they were leaving for Lahore via Dubai after a performance in Delhi.

The eminent singer was questioned at the agency’s office in New Delhi for over 24 hours.
Sources said Rahat had to leave his passport with the DRI officials. The singer and his aides were asked to meet the sleuths of the agency again on Thursday.The release of Rahat was preceded by Islamabad stepping up diplomatic pressure on New Delhi.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir discussed the matter with Sharat Sabharwal, the High Commissioner of India in Islamabad, and sought an early release of the qawwali maestro.

Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi Shahid Malik also spoke to External Affairs Ministry Secretary (West) Vivek Katju, as Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao is currently on a tour to the US.

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik also called up Islamabad’s envoy to New Delhi and asked him to provide Rahat with all necessary legal and consular assistance.
Two officials of the Pakistani High Commission went to the DRI office in New Delhi and sought access to Rahat.

The Pakistani diplomats were, however, told that they could meet the singer only when his questioning would be over.Indian laws allow up to  $ 5000 in cash or $10000 in Traveller’s Cheques to be taken abroad.

The DRI sleuths had found $ 50,000 from Rahat’s checked-in baggage and $ 24,000 from his hand baggage. He was allegedly carrying Rs 60,000 in Pakistani currency, while his manager possessed $50,000.

The DRI officials also recovered bank drafts worth $10,000 and $ 8,646 from him.
If Rahat could not cite satisfactory explanation about the money, he could be booked under Section 6 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act and Section 11 of the Customs Act.