His passport has also been seized. Two of his troupe members detained along with him were also released.

They said Rahat admitted that he had converted Indian currency into foreign currency through local operators but claimed he was unaware of the law that stipulates that a traveller should make declaration to the authorities if he is carrying more than $10,000.

The DRI had reportedly seized close to $1.25 lakh from him and a few of his troupe members who said Rahat owned all the money

The fact that Rahat, who has lent his voice to some of the most popular Hindi film songs in recent years, was on his way to Pakistan via Dubai has compounded the problem of the investigators.

The DRI officials also raided the premises of Eyeline Telefilm and Events, a company which manages the tour plans of Rahat and many Bollywood stars. Chitresh Shrivastava, elder brother of Bollywood singer and composer Aadesh Shrivastava, owns the firm.

The Pakistan Government had sought the immediate lifting of his ‘protective custody’. Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir called in Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Sharat Sabharwal and made inquiries into the matter. He also asked Pakistan High Commissioner in India Shahid Malik to take up the matter with officials of the External Affairs Ministry. Subsequently, Malik is believed to have spoken to Vivek Katju, Secretary (West).