Dubai Jails Indian-Origin Tycoon Balvinder Singh Sahni for ₹344 Crore Money Laundering Scheme

Real estate magnate ‘Abu Sabah’ gets 5-year sentence, fined ₹1.15 crore, and ordered to forfeit assets before deportation from UAE.

May 6, 2025: Balvinder Singh Sahni, a prominent Dubai-based Indian-origin billionaire, has been sentenced to five years in prison and fined AED 500,000 (approximately ₹1.15 crore) after being convicted of money laundering by Dubai’s Fourth Criminal Court.

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The court also ordered the seizure of AED 150 million (around ₹344 crore) from Sahni, known widely by his alias Abu Sabah. Upon completing his sentence, Sahni will be deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The 53-year-old businessman was convicted alongside 33 others, including his son. According to court findings, Sahni operated a complex international money laundering network using shell companies and forged invoices to conceal the origins of illicit funds.

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Who Is Balvinder Singh Sahni?

Sahni is the founder and chairman of Raj Sahni Group (RSG), a multinational real estate firm with major developments in the UAE, US, India, and other countries. His property empire in Dubai includes prominent assets such as Qasr Sabah, Burj Sabah, and Sabah Dubai, a five-star luxury hotel.

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A familiar face in Dubai’s elite social circles, Sahni is known for his lavish lifestyle and car collection, making global headlines in 2016 for purchasing the coveted “D5” license plate for AED 33 million (around $9 million). He maintains an online following of over 3.3 million on Instagram, often showcasing his luxury lifestyle.

The Investigation & Conviction

The case was originally filed in 2024 at Bur Dubai Police Station before being escalated to public prosecution. Investigators uncovered extensive suspicious financial activity involving international transfers and forged records.

The court concluded that Sahni and his co-defendants had orchestrated a deliberate scheme to launder millions, and it imposed additional sentences and fines on other individuals and companies involved.

• Some defendants were tried in absentia
• A few received 1-year jail terms and AED 200,000 fines
• Three companies were fined AED 50 million each

Sahni’s sentencing marks a significant moment in the UAE’s ongoing crackdown on financial crimes, signaling zero tolerance for money laundering networks operating within or beyond its borders.

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🔹Tags:
Balvinder Singh Sahni, Abu Sabah, Dubai Crime, UAE Money Laundering, Raj Sahni Group, Indian Billionaire Jailed, Financial Crimes UAE, Shell Companies, Dubai Real Estate Scandal, Economic Offences