Rahat, manager fined Rs.1.5 each

NEW DELHI - Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his manager Maroof Ali were Sunday fined Rs.1.5 million ($33,000) each for carrying undeclared foreign currency while trying to leave India earlier this month, sources said.

The artiste and his manager, who were charged under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and Customs Act, will have to pay the fine immediately to have their passports and other documents returned.

Rahat and his 16-member troupe was detained at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport Feb 13 for carrying $142,000 in cash and cheques when they were going to catch a flight to Dubai for onward journey to Karachi.

Rahat was released Feb 14 after hours of questioning by officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.

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

The duo is expected to return to Lahore later in the day after they get back their passports.

Rahat, the nephew of legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, is popular both in India and Pakistan. Several of his hit songs from Indian films are a rage on both sides of the border, for which he has won several awards, including the recent Filmfare award for “Dil to Bacha Hai Ji”.