A local court in West Bengal has ordered an interim stay on the arrest warrant issued against cricketer Mohammed Shami in connection with sexual harassment and dowry allegations levelled by his estranged wife.
District and Sessions Judge Rai Chattopadhyay stayed the warrant which was issued to Shami by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) and slated the matter for hearing to November 2.
Shami's lawyer Salim Rahaman has obtained a stay from a higher court. Speaking to IANS, Salim said, "The order didn't hold much ground because while you can summon a person, you cannot issue a surrender notice. We have got a stay on the matter from a higher court and the rest of the plan of action you will get to know tomorrow".
On Monday, an Alipore court had issued an arrest warrant against Shami.
The court has asked him and his brother Hasid Ahmed to surrender before it within 15 days.
Speaking to IANS, a senior Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) functionary said that the fast bowler would return to India on September 12 and till then he was in touch with his lawyer Salim.
"Shami has gone to the US after the tour of the West Indies got over and he will be back in the country on the 12th. He has been in constant touch with his lawyer on the court matter and has also spoken to the relevant people within the board on the matter," the functionary had said.
In 2018, Hasin Jahan had accused the cricketer of domestic violence. She had filed a petition in the court, accusing Shami and his family of harassing her.
Jahan had demanded Rs 7 lakh per month from the pacer to maintain the family. The court accepted her plea and allocated Rs 80,000 for her daughter.
In March, the police had filed a charge sheet in the court against Shami relating to Section 498A (dowry harassment) and 354A (sexual harassment) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
(Inputs from ANI)