Rahat pays off fine; can return home

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

Well known Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has paid off fine money to the Indian Directorate of Revenue Intelligence after being charged for currency violation and now he can embark on return journey to Pakistan, Geo News reported.

The Rahat Fateh Ali Khan along with his manager were fined with Rs1.5 million for carrying undeclared cash amounting to 124,000 dollars at an Indian air port before boarding a plane to Lahore via Dubai last Sunday.

The singer’s money has also been returned to him after he paid off the fine, sources said.

Thirty-seven-year-old Khan was accused of carrying undeclared foreign currency in violation of India's Foreign Exchange Management Act and customs rules.

Khan's manager Maroof, who goes by one name, faced similar charges.

The singer was stopped at the airport and his passport confiscated after performing a string of concerts in India.

According to Indian customs rules, visitors are allowed to carry only $5,000 in cash in and out of the country.

Central Board of Excise and Customs chairman S. Dutt Majumdar said the cash had allegedly been found divided among the musical troupe.

Rahat, a frequent visitor to India, is rated as one of the top "playback" singers in Bollywood, the country's prolific Hindi-language film industry, performing songs to which actors lip-synch the words.

He has several hit songs to his credit and won India's Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer this year.