The legal battle between Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami and his estranged wife, Hasin Jahan, has taken a new turn with the Calcutta High Court ordering Shami to pay a significantly increased monthly alimony. The court has directed Shami to pay a total of ₹4 lakh per month, with ₹1.5 lakh allocated for Hasin Jahan and ₹2.5 lakh for their daughter. This decision comes after Jahan challenged a previous order from a district sessions court in 2023, which had mandated Shami to pay ₹50,000 for Jahan and ₹80,000 for their daughter, totaling ₹1.30 lakh per month.
Hasin Jahan had initially sought ₹7 lakh for herself and ₹3 lakh for her daughter, a total of ₹10 lakh per month. Her lawyer, Imtiaz Ahmed, argued that Shami's financial status allowed for a higher alimony amount. He presented that Shami's total income is around ₹7,19,54,010. Jahan claimed her monthly income was around ₹16,000, while her expenses amounted to ₹6,12,905. Shami's counsel, Sandipan Ganguly, countered that Jahan had her own income from modeling, acting, and business ventures, and was not as destitute as she claimed. The court, however, sided with Jahan, with Justice Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee stating that Shami was in a clear position to pay more. The judge also noted that Jahan, who remains unmarried and is raising their child alone, deserves to maintain a lifestyle similar to what she had during their marriage.
Imtiaz Ahmed, Jahan's lawyer, called the High Court's decision "the best moment" for his client, who he said had been struggling since 2018. Jahan herself expressed her gratitude to the court, stating that she had "lost almost everything" fighting for her rights over the past seven years and that she couldn't afford to send her daughter to a better school. She also said that Shami "forced" her to quit her career as a model and actress, wanting her to be a housewife. Now, she says, she has no income of her own and Shami must bear the responsibility for their maintenance.
The Calcutta High Court's ruling has sparked discussions about the complexities of divorce and alimony cases, particularly those involving high-profile individuals. The court emphasized the need to ensure financial stability for both the wife and the child until the domestic violence case against Shami is resolved. The court also pointed out that even if the wife is earning, it is not sufficient ground to deny monetary relief.
The order is effective from the date Jahan filed her application under Section 23 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence (PWDV) Act. This means Shami will also be responsible for clearing the unpaid dues since 2018, potentially amounting to a substantial sum. The High Court has directed the trial court to dispose of the main application of the interim order within six months. While the ₹4 lakh is mandatory, Shami can contribute additional funds for his daughter’s education and other needs.
The legal battle between Shami and Jahan began in 2018 when Jahan filed a complaint against Shami and his family, alleging domestic violence, dowry harassment, and match-fixing. She claimed Shami had received money from a Pakistani woman. These allegations led the BCCI to put Shami's central contract on hold while they investigated the match-fixing claims. Shami was later cleared of these allegations.
