Pakistan seeks Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's release

New Delhi: The detention of Pakistani Sufi singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is threatening to blow up into a major diplomatic row between the two countries.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is still being questioned by India's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for the second day on Monday.

Speaking to CNN-IBN, Vijayalakshmi Sharma, DG DRI said," Rahat Ali Khan has not been arrested. We are only questioning him. We are still going through the evidences. I am not in the position to say what are the evidences we have. We have also detained manager and event manager."

Islamabad is demanding that Khan be released immediately. A statement issued by the Pakistan foreign ministry says the detention should be terminated quickly.

He was detained at the IGI airport on charges of carrying more than $I lakh in undeclared currency.

Revenue Intelligence officials intercepted him and two other troupe members just as they were going to board a flight to Dubai on Sunday.

Khan is being questioned by the officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Customs for possible FEMA and customs violations. Agencies are trying to ascertain why the singer was carrying so much money.

Sources have told CNN-IBN that Khan had committed a similar offence in the past. Probe is on to ascertain if he was involved in money laundering.

Sources say that Khan's bags contained demand drafts and travellers cheques in addition to cash.

Pakistan initiated hectic efforts to secure the singer's release.

Pakistan High Commission officials today visited the DRI zonal office where Rahat Fatheh Ali Khan is detained in connection with alleged seizure of a huge amount of foreign currency.

The three officials left after spending about 30 minutes at the DRI office, sources said. It was not immediately clear whether they had come to get access to the singer or meet DRI officials.

Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir called Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Sharat Sabarwal and discussed the matter around midnight on Sunday. He requested the Indian envoy to ensure that "no official should misbehave with Rahat during interrogation".

Rahat was detained at the Delhi airport Sunday on his way back to Pakistan after attending concerts and award functions in India. More than $100,000 were recovered from the 15-member troupe.

After over six hours of interrogation by customs officials, he was formally arrested and would be presented in a court Monday morning, Dunya News reported.

Bashir also called up Pakistani High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik and directed him to "take immediate steps for securing release of Rahat".

"The matter should be taken up formally with Indian foreign office," he said, adding that "contact with Indian authorities for updates in the case must be maintained throughout".

Earlier, Interior Minister Rehman Malik called Shahid Malik and directed him "to provide necessary legal and other consular help to Rahat".

"Regular updates should be given to authorities in Pakistan regarding efforts to resolve the case," he stressed.

Rahat's brother-in-law, Asim Raza, told Dunya TV that they "received information from the media and were feeling concerned about it". "We are yet to establish any proper contact with the authorities in India although Rahat talked briefly with his wife and asked her to remain hopeful of a positive outcome".

Rahat, the nephew of legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, is popular both in India and Pakistan. Several of his hit songs from Indian films are a rage on both sides of the border, for which he has won several awards, including the recent Filmfare award for "Dil to Bacha Hai Jee".

(With additional information from agencies)

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