Bombay high court allows Adnan Sami to go abroad

In a relief for Pakistani singer Adnan Sami, embroiled in legal troubles with his estranged wife Sabah Galadhari, the Bombay high court on Tuesday allowed him to travel abroad for performances until his trial under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) gets over.

Justice BR Gavai was hearing appeal filed by Sami after the sessions court last week rejected his plea seeking permission to travel to abroad to perform shows. The judge directed him to submit two sureties of Rs1.50 crore assuring that he would return to India and appear before the court conducting the trial. “If he (Sami) does not comply with the order and return to India to face trial, then will have to give company to the people lodged in Arthur Road jail. He can perform for them,” remarked justice Gavai remarked.

Galadhari’s counsel Mahesh Jethmalani with advocate Edith Mendes Dey vociferously opposed the Sami’s petition urging it to be rejected saying “there is every likelihood if he (Sami) is permitted, he would not return to India”.

Justice Gavai upheld Sami’s lawyer Vibhav Krishna submission that “though he (Sami) is a Pakistani national, for utilisation of his potential, India is the best and there is no likelihood that he would not return.” Krishna said the organisers of the show Rajendra Lodhia and his wife Mital will be the two sureties, of Rs 1 crore and Rs 50 lakhs respectively.