Friendly chat between officials of the Rajkot rural police and members of singer's troupe led to tip-off received by revenue officials and his eventual arrest in Delhi

In what can be seen as proof of the proverbial long arm of the law, a friendly chat that members of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's troupe had with officials of the rural police here led to the Pakistani singer's arrest in Delhi.

During the chat, the cops, who were assigned to protect the troupe, learnt that the singer was carrying a large amount of US currency as payment received for participating in a three-day show.


Rahat Fateh Ali Khan being felicitated at a three-day programme at the ashram in Torania village in Rajkot.

They then tipped off the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) about the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violation, which allows for a maximum of $5,000 (Rs 2 lakh) to be carried by an individual without declaring it to customs authorities on arrival in the country.

Acting on the tip-off, a DRI team intercepted Khan, who was en route to Dubai, at the Delhi airport on Sunday.
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A baggage check of the singer and two of his associates revealed that they were, indeed, carrying excessive foreign currency and they were arrested.

Visa discrepancy

Meanwhile, the rural police has started a parallel inquiry into the singer's visit to Torania, a village close to Rajkot for a live performance at an ashram on Friday.

Pakistani visitors are given visas to specific cities in the country and they are trying to ascertain whether Khan had a visa for performing in Torania.

Deputy Inspector General (Rajkot rural range) Manoj Shashidharan said, "Preliminary inquires have revealed that Khan had performed at the ashram run by spiritual guru Rajendra Bapu.

He was one of the singers who had taken part in a three-day concert organised by the ashram."

"We have information that Khan arrived in Rajkot a day before the event and was staying at a hotel in Rajkot city.
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He then drove to the ashram on Friday and left the city either the same night or early Saturday morning," he said.

The officer added that one of Bapu's followers from Mumbai had spent a lot of money organising the event.

He said they would question both Bapu and the event organisers to confirm if any sum was paid to Khan for the performance, and if so, the amount, mode and currency of payment.

To confirm Khan's visa details, the Gujarat police are checking the records at the Foreigners' Registration Office. Shashidharan said appropriate action would be taken against Khan if any discrepancy is found.

Inputs by Vinod Kumar Menon