Supreme Court Questions Need for Higher Maintenance, Seeks Response from Mohammed Shami and West Bengal Government
Supreme Court Questions Need for Higher Maintenance, Seeks Response from Mohammed Shami and West Bengal Government
Questions over cricketer Mohammed Shami’s financial obligations resurfaced this week as the Supreme Court of India took up a plea filed by his estranged wife, Hasin Jahan, who has sought an increase in the monthly maintenance for herself and their daughter.
During the hearing, the bench expressed surprise at the demand for more money, remarking, “Isn’t ₹4 lakh per month already quite a substantial amount?” Despite the observation, the court issued notices to both Shami and the West Bengal government, directing them to submit their replies within four weeks. The matter is scheduled to be heard again in December.
Jahan’s petition challenges a Calcutta High Court decision that fixed the monthly alimony at ₹1.5 lakh for her and ₹2.5 lakh for their daughter. She contends that the amount does not reflect Shami’s high income or lavish lifestyle, and has therefore requested an upward revision.
Her lawyer argued before the apex court that the Indian pacer’s actual earnings and wealth were far greater than what had been declared. According to the counsel, Shami owns properties worth several hundred crores, drives luxury cars, frequently travels abroad, and enjoys an opulent lifestyle.
The plea also alleges that Shami failed to make payments for several months, despite explicit directions from both the family court and the Calcutta High Court. Jahan maintained that her intent was not to claim ownership over her husband’s income but to ensure that their daughter receives what she deserves. The petition stated that the child “should be able to enjoy a lifestyle comparable to her father’s, study in similar schools, interact with children of his peers, and live with dignity.”
This latest legal move adds another chapter to the prolonged dispute between the couple that began in 2018 after Jahan accused Shami of domestic violence, dowry harassment, and financial misconduct. Over the years, the battle between them has unfolded not just in the courtroom but also under intense media scrutiny.
While Shami has refrained from public comment on the ongoing case, he has previously stated that he prefers to leave the past behind and concentrate on cricket. “Whatever has happened is behind me. I have no regrets and I don’t wish to blame anyone—not even myself. My only focus now is on the game,” he said in an earlier interview.
With the Supreme Court now seeking responses from both Shami and the West Bengal government, all eyes will be on the December hearing to see whether the court upholds the current maintenance order or decides to revise it further. The outcome may well determine the next phase of a personal and legal saga that has stretched over seven years.
