Mohammed Shami’s lawyer gets stay from Alipore court; pacer doesn’t need to surrender

Last week Mohammed Shami, the Indian fast bowler, found himself in grave danger as an arrest warrant was released against him. Last week, the Bengal pacer was given 15 days to appear before the Kolkata court and apply for bail. He was being charged by the West Bengal police after Hasin Jahan, his estranged wife, accused him of a number of crimes, including sexual harassment.

Shami’s legal battle with Jahan has been going on since March 2018 and it doesn’t seem to see an end any soon. Following the allegations, even his future for Team India came under the clouds, leave alone playing in the IPL. The charges may carry a maximum punishment of three years in jail.

Good news for Mohammed Shami

In the meantime, it has been learned that the Alipore court has ordered an interim stay on the warrant against the Indian fast bowler. Salim Rahaman, Shami’s lawyer, said that the order was stayed by Rai Chattopadhyay, the district judge, for nearly a couple of months.

“It was a warrant more procedural in nature. The case was listed for further hearing on November 2,” Rahman was quoted as saying in The Times of India (TOI). The development should come as a massive sigh of relief for the fast bowler, and he doesn’t need to surrender for the time being.

The news about Shami’s arrest warrant broke out when the fast bowler was in the West Indies for the two-match Test series. Prior to that, he had the privilege of playing in the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales. There, he picked up quite a few wickets despite not playing all the games.

Coming to Shami’s brawl with Jahan, the latter has strained every sinew in getting the cricketer behind the bars. She even met Mamata Banerjee, the Honourable Chief Minister of West Bengal, and also claimed to have contacted former Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly in order for justice.

Lately, she said that if the likes of Asaram Bapu and Ram Rahim failed to escape the law, then even Shami should get punished. She was happy after the step of the arrest warrant and now with its stay, it’ll be interesting to see her reaction.

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