The Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami has suffered a significant legal setback as the Calcutta High Court has ordered him to pay Rs 4 lakh per month in alimony to his estranged wife Hasin Jahan and their daughter Aaira. The ruling, delivered by Justice Ajay Mukherjee, comes after years of legal battles between the two.
As per the court’s decision, Shami must now provide Rs 1.5 lakh monthly for Hasin Jahan’s personal maintenance and Rs 2.5 lakh for the upkeep of their daughter. This new order stems from a petition filed by Hasin Jahan who has consistently sought higher financial support, arguing that her monthly expenses reach approximately Rs 6.5 lakh.
The financial dispute has spanned several years. Seven years ago, Hasin Jahan had initially demanded Rs 7 lakh per month in alimony but her plea was rejected at the time on the grounds that she earned independently through modelling. Following that, the Alipore Court instructed Shami to pay Rs 80,000 monthly for both his wife and child. That figure was later revised by a district judge who reduced the sum to Rs 50,000 for Hasin Jahan and increased the child’s maintenance to Rs 80,000, resulting in a combined total of Rs 1.3 lakh.
Unhappy with the modified order, Hasin Jahan contested the decision and approached the Calcutta High Court. She justified her revised demand by highlighting Shami’s considerable earnings, claiming his annual income stands at around Rs 7.5 crore. Citing this, the court reassessed the case and ultimately decided on a monthly maintenance figure that better reflected Mohammed Shami’s financial standing.
Professionally, Mohammed Shami’s presence on the cricket field has been limited recently. While he featured in the ICC Champions Trophy and had a few outings in the Indian Premier League, his last appearance in a Test match was during the World Test Championship final two years ago. Since then, his only first-class outing came in November.
The chief selector Ajit Agarkar had commented earlier this year on Shami’s fitness concerns. He revealed that while efforts were being made to prepare Shami for upcoming series, a recent setback had hampered progress. Ajit Agarkar noted that Shami had undergone MRI scans and indicated that his fitness levels were not sufficient for the demands of a full Test series, especially considering the workload involved in playing five-day matches.
As the legal and professional chapters in Shami’s life continue to unfold, the High Court’s order marks a turning point in his long-standing personal dispute, bringing clarity, at least financially, to one of the most publicized off-field sagas of Indian cricket.
