HC allows Pakistani singer Adnan Sami to go abroad for concert

Mumbai, May 31: The Bombay High Court has allowed Pakistani singer

, locked in a legal battle with his former wife Sabah Galadari, to visit Australia in July for a concert but pulled him up for failing to comply with its earlier orders of furnishing sureties.

Granting interim relief, Justice M S Sonak yesterday allowed an application filed by Sami through advocate Amit Ghag seeking nod for overseas tour, but with the condition that he would furnish the sureties by July 31. "The applicant seems to be taking the court orders lightly. He has not complied with the orders since January," the Judge said.

Sami was recently allowed to visit Pakistan to meet his ailing mother. He sought permission to retain his passport to visit Perth and Brisbane in Australia for a music show between July 5 and July 17.

His passport had been seized by police after his two sureties withdrew the undertaking that he would be available in India to face the trial. Edith De, counsel for Galadari, opposed Sami's plea, saying the singer has failed to complete the formalities of submitting sureties before the trial court.

Sami was recently allowed to visit Pakistan to meet his ailing mother

The Judge allowed Sami to visit Australia but directed him to furnish fresh sureties by July 31. The High Court, in June 2011, had relaxed conditions of Sami's anticipatory bail wherein he had to take prior permission from court every time to travel abroad. However, the HC had asked Sami to give undertaking to get two sureties who would give personal bond of Rs 1.5 crore.

A surety is a person or a firm that agrees to be liable for the conduct or obligation of another person. Last year, his two sureties withdrew the bond and undertaking and hence he has to once again approach the High Court for permission to travel abroad. Adnan and Galadari are locked in a legal battle.

The couple got married in 2001 and divorced in 2004. However, they remarried in 2007 and once again split in 2009. Ever since they are engaged in court cases filed against each other. Galadari lodged a domestic violence complaint against Sami here in April 2009.

PTI