17 February,2011 07:00 AM IST | | Vinod Kumar Menon
Rajkot rural police probing Rahat case question organiser and event financier who is a builder from Mumbai
The Rahat Fateh Ali Khan story may soon take on a new twist in light of the probe being conducted by the Rajkot rural police.
The police questioned guru Rajendra Bapu of Torania ashram in Rajkot and even the financier of the event, who happens to be a builder in Mumbai. Rahat is scheduled to appear before the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) today.
Rahat is scheduled to appear before the DRI today
The Rajkot rural police presently probing the matter learnt that the singer was in India on an exempt visa similar to his troupe members and was not expected to visit the police station, which has now become a cross border issue.
DIG of police (Rajkot rural range) Manoj Shashidharan confirmed to MiD DAY about the development and said that they have questioned Bapu and the financier of the mass wedding ceremony organised at the guru's ashram.
According to Shashidharan, Bapu revealed during questioning that arrangements had been made for the mass wedding of couples from different communities as a charity event, and followers suggested that a musical performance would be apt to mark the occasions.
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It was then decided to invite Rahat to perform at the ceremony, since he was already in the country performing at other events.
"We have learned that Rahat had performed at the ashram from 11 pm to 1 am with 23 troupe members, of which 13, including Rahat, were from Pakistan and the rest were Indian.
All Pakistani nationals had obtained police exemption stamps on their Indian visas from the Indian High Commission in Pakistan before leaving for India," said the officer.
Money matters
The organisers had not obtained police permission for the event held at Bapu's ashram and when Shashidharan was asked for a statement, he said that since the event was organised in a private area, the organisers did not approach the police for permission.
The police have also learnt from the builder that he had paid Rahat Rs 3.51 lakh through cheque, which according to him was to be shared among the 23 troupe members. The builder also cleared hotel bills amounting to Rs 9,000 where he himself had stayed.
"Prima facie we have not found anything incriminating yet. We are, however, open to any further inquiry," said Shashidharan.
Meanwhile, sleuths attached to the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax are likely to seek information regarding the source of foreign currency found in Rahat's possession when he was detained by DRI on February 14 at the IGI airport, Delhi.
Interestingly, agencies have reported that DRI also conducted searches on the premises of Eyeline Telefilm and Events in Mumbai, owned by Chitresh, elder brother of Bollywood singer Aadesh Shrivastava.
