DUBAI — In a courtroom packed with tension, the gavel fell hard on Balvinder Singh Sahni, a Dubai-based Indian businessman known as “Abu Sabah,” now facing five years behind bars. On May 2, 2025, the Dubai Criminal Court handed down the sentence, slapping Sahni with a Dhs500,000 fine and ordering the seizure of Dhs150 million in illicit assets. The verdict marks a dramatic fall for a man once celebrated for his flashy lifestyle, including a Dhs33 million purchase of a car license plate bearing the number “5” back in 2016.
Sahni didn’t act alone. The court convicted 32 others, including his son, for running a sprawling money laundering network that funneled millions through a maze of shell companies and shady financial deals. The operation, described by authorities as a sophisticated criminal syndicate, stretched across the UAE, the United States, and India. Some defendants stood in the dock, while 11 were tried in absentia, each receiving five-year terms and Dhs500,000 fines. Another 10 got lighter sentences—one year in jail and Dhs200,000 penalties. Three companies tied to the scheme were hit with Dhs5 million fines each, their assets also confiscated.
The case kicked off with a tip to Dubai Police, sparking a probe that unraveled the network’s web of deceit. By December 18, 2024, the Public Prosecution had enough to move, and the first trial session unfolded on January 9, 2025. Investigators found a trail of suspicious transactions, with funds bouncing between countries through front companies designed to mask their origins. Seized phones, computers, and documents laid bare the scale of the operation, leading to the massive asset forfeiture.
Sahni, founder of a property management firm with branches in multiple countries, had long been a fixture in Dubai’s elite circles. His penchant for luxury—cars, real estate, and that infamous license plate—made him a recognizable figure. Now, after serving his sentence, he faces deportation from the UAE, a stark end to his high-rolling days.
The court’s ruling also sent a clear message: no one is above the law. All convicted individuals will be deported after their sentences, and the confiscated funds, devices, and records will remain in government hands. The case, one of the largest money laundering crackdowns in recent UAE history, underscores the country’s aggressive stance on financial crime.