New Delhi:
Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is expected to be questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) here next week in connection with an alleged forex violations case of 2011.
Sources said the Sufi singer has been summoned for a “personal appearance” and questioning on February 4 at the agency’s office here.
The probe agency had initiated a probe under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) in 2014 against the singer and his associates.
ED had, last year, issued summons to Khan to appear before investigators but they could not be delivered due to some issues.
“The latest summons have been faxed to the singer. He has been summoned for presenting his case and answering agency’s questions under Section 37 of the FEMA. The questioning may take place next week,” official sources said.
The case dates back to 2011 when the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted Khan and his manager, Marrouf Ali Khan, at the Indira Gandhi International airport here for allegedly carrying an undeclared amount of USD 1.24 lakh and some other instruments in foreign currency.
The ED, which is the central agency to probe such forex contraventions under the FEMA, took over the case after this episode.
Officials said ED had initiated the step after working on the case for over-an-year and after obtaining records of the said cash from RBI.
The Pakistani singer had deputed a team of lawyers to interact with the agency here but the investigation, sources said, now requires Khan’s personal appearance.
Khan, during his earlier statements on the subject, had said he had done nothing wrong and they were carrying the large amount of cash because they were travelling in a group and the act was inadvertent.
The singer’s lawyers have submitted the details of the shows and events after which the said amount was accumulated by him in 2011, to the agency.
The Sufi singer had won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 2011 for the song ‘Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji’ from the movie ‘Ishqiya’ and many of his renditions are popular chartbusters in both India and Pakistan.
