Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, manager to be charged under Customs Act

Celebrated singer from Pakistan Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his manager, from whom undeclared foreign currency was allegedly seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence at the Delhi airport on February 13, will be charged with offences under the Customs Act.

The matter has now been forwarded to the adjudicating authority, Commissioner of Customs (Airport), for further action.

The adjudicating authority, a quasi-judicial body, would grant personal hearings to Mr. Khan and his manager Maroof and then take a decision on the basis of the findings. According to informed sources, in the case of absolute confiscation of seized article, penalty is levied on the accused. If the article is returned, the accused has to pay redemption fine and penalty for the violation.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr. Khan was again questioned by DRI officials. It is learnt that he then appeared before the Customs officials at the airport.

Mr. Khan, his manager and event manager Chitresh Shrivastava were detained by the DRI sleuths when they along with the other members of his troupe were on their way to board a flight to Dubai. The agency purportedly found $24,000 in Mr. Khan's baggage, whereas $50,000 each were found in the possession of Mr. Maroof and Mr. Shrivastava. The money was much above the permissible limit of $5,000 in cash and like amount in other instruments.

The DRI investigation began with the charge of carrying foreign currency beyond the permitted limit. The role of foreign exchange agents, besides some prominent Bollywood figures, came under the scanner in due course.