ED Catches Pakistani Singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan By The Dollar; Issues Him Notice For Money Laundering 

Pakistani Qawwali singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, known for his work in several Bollywood films, has been issued a notice by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) in connection with a 2011 case, reports Indian Express. The agency has sought a reply from Khan within 45 days.

Khan, along with two of his associates, was detained at the Delhi International Airport in 2011 by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for allegedly carrying $1.24 lakh in undeclared foreign currency. He was later released after questioning by the authorities.

According to FEMA norms, a foreigner cannot carry beyond $5,000 in cash and $5,000 in other forms such as travellers’ checks etc.

The ED, which is the central agency to probe such forex contraventions under the FEMA, took over the case after this episode, Economic Times has reported.

He was summoned by the ED in 2015 to record his statement in the case. Khan in his statement on the subject had said that 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 had also submitted the details, to the ED, of the shows and events to show the said amount was accumulated by him in 2011.