Rahat Ali Khan denies being served notice by Indian govt in 2011 forex case

Singer and associates accused of foreign exchange violations of up to 20 million Indian rupees.

Updated 31 Jan, 2019

The Indian government has issued Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan a show-cause notice in connection with a case pertaining to alleged foreign exchange violation amounting to 20 million Indian rupees in 2011, The Hindu reported on Wednesday, citing officials in the Enforcement Directorate.

Speaking to Images, Rahat's manager Aamir Hasan said they have "no information of this [show cause notice] as of yet".

The singer's management has also released a press release stating: "It comes as a surprise that a notice is being served to Khan sahab. Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's management company has no idea about this. Interestingly our lawyers in India are also known to the relevant authorities and as of now they have not received any notice either.

"Khan sahab has never had any direct dealings with anyone in India or elsewhere, hence, he being blamed for something like this is bizarre.

"It would have been better if the authorities had served the notice first (if any) and then made this public. We will address this if and when we get a notice, and our law firm In Delhi will look into this."

The Indian Directorate of Enforcement has given Khan 45 days to respond to the notice, which was issued under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) after the probe into the case was recently concluded.

The ED had initiated an investigation against Khan and his associates in 2014 after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DIR) in 2011 intercepted the singer and his manager Marrouf Ali Khan at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, allegedly carrying $124,000 and other forex instruments.

The ED then took over the probe from the DRI after it obtained the relevant records from the Indian central back.

Khan has maintained that he has not committed any wrongdoing, and that the large amount of cash he and his associates were carrying was because they were travelling in a group.

Comments

Binoy Jan 30, 2019 12:26pm

I dont think he will ever comeback to India after this.

Recommend

Umesh Jan 30, 2019 12:59pm

But why so late.

Uza Syed Jan 30, 2019 01:14pm

It is good so. Being a world class artist does not immunise one against criminal prosecution and even punishment. Frankly the greater the personality and the higher the profile the more responsibility you carry to curb your greed and criminal inclinations to break laws. I am glad that the authorities there have not compromised and have decided to teach him a lesson into respecting laws and meet legal obligations. If this is how indiscriminately our authorities had dealt with such high profile cheats then criminal minded Khans and Butts would have ceased to exist already long time ago.

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Jan 30, 2019 01:22pm

As you sow, so shall you reap.

Yasmin Jan 30, 2019 01:35pm

Safe and sound, no worries, made enough money from India, gave blockbuster songs. Pakistan mera watan, zindabad.

Satish.S Jan 30, 2019 01:55pm

this was very well known for all artists coming from pakistan

RKH Jan 30, 2019 02:11pm

Pakistanis are not like that , they are law abiding persons in any of country ?

Haryanavi_chora Jan 30, 2019 03:44pm

End of this guy's career!!!

Aleem Jan 30, 2019 06:53pm

This is a lesson for all Pakistanis, artists or not. Do not go to India at all costs till Modi is PM

Amjad Durrani Engineer USA Jan 30, 2019 07:32pm

How could he plead to be so innocent? not a palatable excuse, knowing well that all countries, keeping a check on money laundering, have laws limiting amount in cash to be taken out by passsengers flying out of the country and that too in dollars. If he was carrying such a huge amount without explicit permission of the Indian authorities, it is a breach of existing rules and regulations, and he has no other option but to face the music. Ignorance of law is no excuse.