Renowned Pakistani singer Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, known for his soulful contributions to both Bollywood films and Pakistani serials, found himself at the centre of controversy when reports of him allegedly assaulting an individual within the confines of his residence surfaced today.
A widely circulated video on social media, initially shared by Samaa TV, captured the famous singer demanding a bottle from an individual and physically assaulting them in the presence of a gathering. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan later released a clarification video alongside his disciple and the disciple’s father, whom he had reportedly assaulted.
Here is the video:
Famous singer Rahat Fateh Ali khan beating his servent for bottle of Alcohol pic.twitter.com/9DZwYxgPmV
— Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) January 27, 2024
In the video, he explained that the bottle in question did not contain liquor; rather, it held holy water from a religious cleric who had recited verses over it. Senior journalist and anchor Tariq Mateen shared the post, wherein Rahat began by stating, “Ye Jo hua videos aap dekh rahe hai, ye ek Ustad aur Shagird ke beech ki baat hai.”
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has been a serial offender
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, renowned for enchanting millions with his melodious voice in songs like “O Re Piya,” “Tere Mast Mast Do Nain,” “Mann Ki Lagan,” and “Jiya Dhadak Dhadak,” hails from a family of talented musicians. His grandfather, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, was a respected member of a famous qawwali group and was acknowledged by The New York Times as the greatest qawwali singer of his generation.
This incident is not the first time Rahat has been embroiled in controversy. In 2019, he faced accusations of smuggling illegal foreign currency into India over three years. According to a news report, Khan allegedly received $340,000 (Rs 2.42 crore) through illicit means, of which he reportedly smuggled $225,000 (Rs 1.6 crore). The singer’s latest altercation has stirred public discussion, adding another chapter to his history of controversies.
