The Supreme Court has instructed a sessions court in West Bengal to resolve the domestic violence case against cricketer Mohammed Shami, filed by his wife, Hasin Jahan, within one month. If this is not possible, the sessions court should decide on Jahan’s application to lift the stay on Shami’s trial.
The directive was issued by a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra. They noted that the proceedings were initially stayed only until November 2, 2019, but the stay had been extended for four years. As such, the Court found merit in the plea by Shami’s wife, who had approached the top court due to the delay in the trial.
the Court ordered;
“By an order dated September 9, 2019, the sessions judge passed an order staying the proceedings till November 2, 2019. Stay on trial has continued since last 4 years. Thus we find merit in the plea. We direct the sessions judge to dispose of the proceedings within a month of this order. If this is not possible then dispose of any application filed to lift the stay on trial,”
In 2019, a sessions court in West Bengal had stayed the arrest warrant issued against Shami and also stayed the criminal trial against him. Jahan then approached the Calcutta High Court, which dismissed her plea, prompting her to approach the Supreme Court.
Jahan’s plea alleges that Shami demanded dowry from her and was continuously involved in illicit extra-marital relationships. She claimed that Shami used his second mobile phone to manage all his affairs with prostitutes and that the said phone was seized by the Lal Bazaar Police in connection with the present case.
Jahan added in her plea;
“However, Mr. Shami still continues to be involved in sexual activities with prostitutes,“.
Jahan also pointed out that the trial in this case has not progressed in the last four years due to the stay. She highlighted that Shami has not appeared before the trial court or even applied for bail in the case.
Earlier this year, a Kolkata court had ordered Shami to pay a monthly alimony of ₹50,000 to Jahan. This latest development in the case underscores the Supreme Court’s commitment to ensuring the timely resolution of such serious allegations. Stay tuned for more updates on this ongoing case.