The Indian Appellate Tribunal for the Foreign Exchange Management Act slapped a heavy fine of INR 5 million on singer Adnan Sami for buying multiple properties in Mumbai as a Pakistani. Sami had bought eight apartments and five parking lots in Mumbai in 2013 while being a Pakistani national, without seeking the consent of Reserve bank of India.
Adnan Sami following the case had applied for the Indian citizenship and he was granted Certificate of Neutralization on January 1st 2016.
Sami was a Pakistani national at the time and was conferred Indian citizenship in 2016. The penalty increased from INR2mn when Tribunal rejected December 2010 order of the Enforcement Directorate Special Director for the confiscation of the property.
Adnan Sami has already paid a penalty of INR1mn and the rest of levied amount has to be paid within three months of the order issued. The Tribunal had rejected his Adnan Sami’s plea against the confiscation of his properties.
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“The impugned order is set aside as far as exercise of discretion under Section 13(2) of the Act. The finding arrived under Section 13(1) shall remain intact. Mr. Sami shall deposit the remaining ₹40 lakh with the respondent [ED] within three months from today.
Adnan Sami in his plea maintained that he was not aware a Pakistani national could not buy immovable property in India.
As no case under Section 13(2) (about the confiscation of eight flats and five parking space)…the said findings and part of the order is quashed,” said the Tribunal in its judgment. Adnan Sami had bought the properties in the Oberoi Sky Garden Co-operative Housing Society in Lokhandwala Mumbai in on December 29, 2003.
The singer paid a total amount of INR2.53 crore for the flats. He later transferred the flats to his then wife Sabah Galadari long with some parking spaces, but afterwards the Family Court declared his marriage null and void. Adnan Sami in his plea maintained that he was not aware a Pakistani national could not buy immovable property in India.
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After trial, Tribunal noted that the “the flats were purchased by Indian Rupees, out of monies earned in India on which Income Tax has been paid, as well as monies loaned from India banks. The loans have been duly repaid.”
Adnan Sami following the case had applied for the Indian citizenship and he was granted Certificate of Neutralization on January 1st 2016.