Dubai-based Indian billionaire Balvinder Singh Sahni jailed for money laundering

Indian businessman Balvinder Singh Sahni, also known as Abu Sabah, has been sentenced to five years in prison for money laundering and other financial crimes. A court in Dubai also fined him dinar 500,000 (around Rs 1.15 crore) and ordered him to give up assets worth dinar 150 million (around Rs 344 crore). After serving his jail term, he will be deported from the UAE.

Sahni, 53, is the founder and chairman of the Raj Sahni Group (RSG), a real estate company with projects in the UAE, US, India, and other countries. His firm owns several properties in Dubai, including residential buildings, office spaces, and a luxury hotel.

Well-known in Dubai's elite circles, Sahni is famous for his luxury cars and flashy lifestyle. In 2016, he made headlines when he paid dinar 33 million for the car number plate “D5” for one of his Rolls-Royces,.

The case against Sahni and 33 others, including his son, began in 2024, reports reported Khaleej Times.

Investigators found they were running a network of fake companies and using fake invoices to move money illegally. Some of the accused were tried in absentia. Others received lighter sentences, including one-year jail terms or fines.

Despite his fame and charitable work in India, Sahni now faces a major fall from grace due to the serious financial crimes.