Renowned Pakistani singers Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was deported from India on technical grounds as soon as he touched down Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) on Thursday.
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Rahat was hence asked to return to Abu Dhabi and return to India from one of the legal ports of entry.
According to reports, the prolific singer, with several Bollywood hits to his name, was set to perform at an event called “Raahtein a ‘Sufi’sticated New Year’s Eve” at Taj Falaknuma Palace and was flying in, directly from Abu Dhabi to Hyderabad which, according to Indian immigration rules, is prohibited. On seeking the reason to the singer’s deportation, the immigration authorities mentioned it as a “technical flaw”.
Asked about the incident, Khan told PTI, “The authorities and I were right in our own ways and the airline in question was wrong as they should have known that as a Pakistani national which ports in India we are authorised to travel”.
The official was quoted by TOI as saying, If a Pakistani national enters through any other airport, except the four metros, his/her travel to India can not be recorded.
The singer is thought to have flown to Delhi to enter the country after being sent back to Abu Dhabi.
But, immigration officials refrained from confirming the same.
Due to the unexpected turn of events, the organisers also rescheduled the Sufi music event for 11 pm, which was originally scheduled to begin at 8 pm.
But returns to Hyderabad just in time to perform at a NYE bash.
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Khan then took a flight to Delhi and came to Hyderabad for his performance.
