In one of the biggest sting operations conducted by India’s Network 18 Group, famed Pakistani artists like Fawad Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shafaqat Amanat Ali, Mawara Hocane and Imran Abbas have now been exposed for large scale black money transactions. That’s correct! Turns out in line with its slogan of ‘Danke Ki Chot Par’, News18 India conducted the sting operation over a fortnight in Mumbai and Delhi where their undercover reporters caught the agents of the Pakistani artists demanding important chunk of the fee in ‘black cash’. From what’s reported, the fee was for their respective looks at wedding ceremonies. Others desired it transferred to their bank accounts in Australia or Dubai while a few demanded part of the fee in cash. Also read: Will move Be ’sed by PM Narendra Modi against black money influence Bollywood? We have the solution!
In the sting operation report Fawad Khan’s manager requested the payment should be made in white and black and demanded Rs 50 lakhs.
Including taxes, while vocalists Shafaqat Amanat Ali’s manager and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s manager demanded Rs 35 lakhs and Rs 65 lakhs respectively, the former’s contract revealed just Rs 8 lakhs and Rs 23 lakhs in addition to that. To not forget, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence against carrying around Rs 60 lakh in his bag also detained at IGI airport in February 2011 Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. He was just released just after he consented to pay a huge fee.
Similarly Mawara Hocance’s Pakistan based supervisor asked for Rs 25 lakhs to be paid to her contact in Mumbai and demanded Rs 50 lakhs for a two hour appearance; while the remaining sum was to be transferred to Hocane’s Australian bank account.
Given that all the Pakistani artists come to India on a work permit obtained through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for professional booking, these activities simply break statutory laws. The truth is, this insistence for payment in cash that is black additionally breaks Income Tax laws and Service Tax.
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