Dubai-based Indian businessman Balvinder Singh Sahni was sentenced to five years in jail in Dubai on charges of money laundering. He will be deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after his sentence is completed, as he has been found guilty of financial crimes, including money laundering.

According to Gulf News, a Dubai court ordered the confiscation of 150 million AED (₹344 crore) from the Indian-origin businessman before his deportation. Widely known as Abu Sabah, the billionaire has also been fined AED 5,00,000 (Rs 1,14,89,750) apart from the five-year sentence.

Sahni is a well-known name in Dubai's elite circle and has been convicted of laundering 150 million AED through a network of shell companies and forged invoices, according to a report by Gulf News. 

The businessman was among the 33 others convicted alongside him, including his son, reported Khaleej Times.

Who Is Balvinder Singh Sahni?

Balvinder Singh Sahni is a 53-year-old businessman and the founder and chairman of the Raj Sahni Group (RSG) property development firm, His company operates in the UAE, the US, India, and other countries.

According to media reports, the property portfolio of Sahni's company includes the Qasr Sabah's residential buildings in Dubai Sports City, commercial property in Bay Square, a 24-storey Burj Sabah apartment complex in Jumeirah Village Circle, Business Bay, and a five-star hotel called Sabah Dubai, among others. 

He is also known to be a luxury car collector and often posted his expensive vehicles on social media, where he has around 3.3 million followers. Sahni made headlines in 2016 when he bought a car number plate D5 for AED 33 million (about $9 million at the time) for one of his Rolls-Royce cars.

He also owned a limited-edition black Bugatti, which he once parked in the centre of his Palm Jumeirah mansion, after he was aadvised thatsomething black would protect him from the "evil eye," Khaleej Times reported.

He is mostly seen wearing his distinctive royal blue kandura, a baseball cap, and matching trainers. 

What's The Case Against Sahni

The case against Sahni was initially registered at the Bur Dubai Police Station in 2024. It was later transferred to the Public Prosecution. During investigation, police found extensive financial data and business links both within the UAE and spanning international jurisdictions. 

Dubai's Fourth Criminal Court, in its ruling last Friday, convicted Sahni, along with other defendants for operating a money laundering network using shell companies and suspicious financial transactions.

The court has ordered Sahni to pay a fine of AED 500,000 and to forfeit assets worth AED 150 million, believed to be proceeds of the illegal activity.

The court also ordered his deportation upon completing the sentence. As per reports, some defendants were tried in absentia. Several received lighter penalties, including one-year jail terms and fines of AED 200,000, while three companies were each fined AED 50 million.