DELHI – For Pakistani singer-composer Adnan Sami and his estranged wife, UAE citizen Sabah Galadari, the New Year has begun with yet another altercation. The question now is, which of the two orders will take precedence – the Enforcement Directorate order in accordance with FEMA, confiscating the flats bought by Sami in Oberoi Sky Garden, Mumbai, or the Bombay HC order granting interim relief to Sabah.
The latest episode began around noon on Sunday when Sabah, armed with the HC order and accompanied by her advocate Edith Dey, arrived at Oberoi Sky Garden seeking execution of the order dated December 22. The division bench had stayed the single judge’s order against her, allowing Sabah to stay in the 13th and 14th floor duplex at Oberoi Sky Garden.
The single judge’s order told Sabah to choose between the 12th floor flat or a flat in another building. Sami, however, did not allow Sabah in. He was armed with the confiscation order passed by ED on December 21. According to Sami’s advocate Vibhav Krishna, the ED order reached them on December 24, two days after the HC order, and he could not allow a change in position after that.
The FEMA order says that “since in the first place, the flats were purchased by Adnan Khan illegally; the subsequent transfer was also illegal. The defect in title deed disentitles Mrs Sabah Adnan Khan to have any legal right over the flats gifted to her by her husband.”
The ED’s order further says, “If she has paid for the flats to Adnan Khan, it is for her to claim damage from Adnan Khan…” Sabah rushed to Oshiwara police station to lodge a complaint against Sami. Her advocate Dey said, “We have registered a non-cognisable complaint against Sami. Sabah went there to stay, and not to claim right to the property.” She said they will file a contempt petition against Sami, as he refused to abide by the HC order.
A statement issued by Sami said,
“It’s sad for me that at a time like this, when I have to appeal for my property and my earnings are confiscated, that I have the additional menace in the form of Sabah and her lawyers who, in disregard of the ED order, come knocking on my door claiming my property. According to this order,
she’s been told she has no right over it as the gift stands null and void. At least leave me alone now to deal with this personal tragedy in the name of ‘humanity’ and thus ‘respect’ the law and stop making a mockery of it by thinking you are above it saying – I don’t give a damn about the ED order.” When contacted, Sabah said, “If my title is defective, it stems from his illegal and defective title, and if he’s going to appeal, I will follow suit and claim my property. What is he doing in my flat? Adnan has falsely stated that we have damned the ED order. We simply said the HC order will prevail over the ED order. It’s Adnan who has not respected the HC.”
