The legal battle between Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami and his estranged wife, Hasin Jahan, continues as Jahan has approached the Supreme Court seeking an increase in the monthly maintenance awarded to her and their daughter. The case revolves around Jahan's argument that the ₹4 lakh (approximately $4,800 USD) monthly alimony, granted by the Calcutta High Court, is insufficient considering Shami's substantial income and "ultra-luxurious lifestyle".
The Calcutta High Court had previously ordered Shami to pay ₹1.5 lakh per month to Jahan and ₹2.5 lakh per month for their daughter's upkeep. However, Jahan argues that this amount fails to reflect the "settled legal principles governing maintenance," especially considering Shami's financial status as an A-list national cricketer.
In her petition to the Supreme Court, Jahan claims that Shami's monthly income exceeds ₹1.08 crore (approximately $130,000 USD) and that his net worth is estimated to be around ₹500 crore (approximately $60 million USD). She highlights his ownership of luxury vehicles, frequent foreign travels, and overall extravagant lifestyle as evidence of his financial capacity. Conversely, Jahan asserts that she has been unemployed since their marriage and lacks an independent source of income to meet her daily needs.
Jahan's counsel argued that Shami's income from his "workplace" is far greater than what the Calcutta High Court considered when fixing the maintenance amount. They emphasized that Shami is deliberately manipulating the courts to avoid providing an equitable amount of maintenance to his wife and daughter, and has defaulted on payments for several months.
Jahan has sought an enhanced interim maintenance of ₹7 lakh per month for herself and ₹3 lakh per month for her daughter, or any higher amount deemed appropriate by the court. She argues that her daughter is entitled to a standard of living similar to that of her father, including access to similar schools and social circles.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan, has issued notices to Shami and the West Bengal government, seeking their responses within four weeks. During the hearing, the court questioned Jahan's demand, asking if ₹4 lakh per month was not already a "quite handsome" amount. Nevertheless, the court has directed both parties to present their arguments for further consideration. The next hearing is expected to take place in December 2025.
The legal dispute between Shami and Jahan dates back to 2018 when Jahan filed a criminal case against Shami, accusing him of domestic abuse, dowry harassment, and financial disputes. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cleared Shami of fixing allegations, the personal and legal battles between the couple have persisted. The current plea in the Supreme Court marks the latest chapter in this ongoing saga, with Jahan determined to secure a higher financial provision for herself and their child, citing Shami's "ultra-luxurious lifestyle" as justification.
