The government has decided to extend visa of noted Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who was detained by revenue enforcement authorities at the Delhi airport for carrying undeclared $1.24 lakh recently
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| More relief: The Pakistani singer had earlier been detained for 28 hours. File pic |
The government has decided to extend visa of noted Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who was detained by revenue enforcement authorities at the Delhi airport for carrying undeclared $1.24 lakh recently. "His visa has expired and it will be extended," Home ecretary G K Pillai said in Delhi.
Pillai said Khan's passport has already been impounded and he has been asked to appear before the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on February 17. "We hope that post 17 (February), there could be adjudication proceeding and we hope that the matter would be resolved," he said.
Officials claimed to have seized $1.24 lakh in cash and two demand drafts of over $18,600, from Rahat and some of the members of his troupe on Sunday when they were planning to catch a flight to Dubai for onward journey to Karachi. Carrying enormous amounts of money without declaration is an offence under customs rules and could attract charges under Foreign Exchange Management Act. Pakistan Interior Minister Rahman Malik on Tuesday thanked Home Minister P Chidambaram for the release of noted singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.
