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{{Short description|Indian businessman (born 1972)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Balvinder Singh Sahni
| image = Balvinder Sahni (Abu Sabah) (cropped).jpg
| caption =
| other_names = Abu Sabah
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|4|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kuwait City, [[Kuwait]]
| citizenship = India<ref name="ht2025" />
| occupation = Businessman, real estate developer
| known_for = Founder of RSG Group
| criminal_charges = Money laundering, financial fraud
| criminal_penalty = 5 years imprisonment, fine, asset confiscation, deportation
| criminal_status = Imprisoned
}}
'''Balvinder Singh Sahni''' (born 7 April 1972), also known as '''Abu Sabah''', is an Indian businessman and real estate developer based in [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]]. He is the founder and chairman of the RSG Group, a conglomerate involved in real estate, hospitality, and other sectors. In 2025, Sahni was convicted in Dubai on charges of [[money laundering]] and financial fraud.<ref name="firstpost">{{Cite web |date=6 May 2025 |title=Who is Balvinder Singh Sahni, the Indian-origin billionaire jailed in Dubai? |url=https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/who-is-balvinder-singh-sahni-the-indian-origin-billionaire-jailed-in-dubai-13885821.html |access-date=12 July 2025 |website=Firstpost |language=en-us}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Sahni was born in [[Kuwait City]], [[Kuwait]], to parents of [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] heritage. His father, Amrik Singh, operated a business in the automotive sector. Sahni attended the New English School in Kuwait and left higher studies at age 18 to join the family business. He later established his own business ventures in the Gulf region.<ref name="ht2025">{{cite news |date=10 May 2025 |title=Indian billionaire Balvinder Singh Sahni sentenced to 5 years in jail in Dubai for money laundering |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/indian-billionaire-balvinder-singh-sahni-sentenced-to-5-years-in-jail-in-dubai-for-money-laundering-101746495485669.html |work=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=August 2025}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=From billionaire to behind bars: The rise and fall of Balvinder Singh Sahni |url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/topstories/from-billionaire-to-behind-bars-the-rise-and-fall-of-balvinder-singh-sahni/vi-AA1EgCqo?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds |access-date=12 July 2025 |website=www.msn.com}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=August 2025}}

== Business career ==

=== Establishment of RSG Group ===
In the early 2000s, Sahni moved to Dubai, where he established the Raj Sahni Group (RSG), a business involved in real estate, hospitality, and other sectors. The company's projects in Dubai have included developments such as Qasr Sabah and Burj Sabah.<ref name="firstpost" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 May 2025 |title=Who Is Balvinder Singh Sahni? Indian Origin Billionaire Convicted Of Money Laundering In Dubai |url=https://www.ndtvprofit.com/world/who-is-balvinder-singh-sahni-indian-origin-billionaire-convicted-of-money-laundering-in-dubai |access-date=12 July 2025 |website=NDTV Profit |language=en}}</ref>

=== Public profile ===
Sahni attracted public attention for high-profile purchases and a notable social media presence. In 2016, he purchased the "D5" vehicle license plate in Dubai for AED 33 million (approximately US$9 million).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rs 80 Crore Rolls Royce Number, $100 Million Mansion: The Lavish Life Of Convicted Indian-Origin Billionaire |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/rs-80-crore-rolls-royce-number-100-million-mansion-into-the-lavish-life-of-convicted-indian-origin-billionaire-balvinder-singh-sahni-8340535 |access-date=12 July 2025 |website=NDTV |language=en}}</ref> He maintained a significant following on social media and was frequently seen wearing blue clothing in public appearances.<ref name="ndtv2025">{{cite news |date=9 May 2025 |title=Indian-origin billionaire Balvinder Singh Sahni jailed in Dubai for money laundering |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/indian-origin-billionair-balvinder-singh-sahni-jailed-in-dubai-for-money-laundering-8340586 |work=[[NDTV]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Arikatla |first=Venkat |date=6 May 2025 |title=Rs 830 Crore Mansion - Now 5 Years In Jail |url=https://www.greatandhra.com/politics/india-news/rs-830-crore-mansion-now-5-years-in-jail-145995 |access-date=12 July 2025 |website=greatandhra.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Legal issues ==

=== Investigation and charges ===
In late 2024, Sahni was arrested following an investigation by Dubai authorities into allegations of money laundering and financial fraud involving shell companies and forged documents. The case involved significant sums of money and numerous co-defendants.<ref name="tribune2025">{{cite news |date=9 May 2025 |title=Dubai-based Indian billionaire jailed for money laundering |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/diaspora/dubai-based-indian-billionaire-balvinder-singh-sahni-jailed-for-money-laundering/ |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A scandal in Dubai |url=https://themorningcontext.com/business/a-scandal-in-dubai |access-date=12 July 2025 |website=themorningcontext.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Conviction and sentencing ===
In May 2025, the Dubai Fourth Criminal Court convicted Sahni of money laundering. He was sentenced to five years in prison and fined AED 500,000. The court also ordered the confiscation of AED 150 million linked to the illegal activities and his deportation following his prison term. Several others, including his eldest son, were also convicted and sentenced.<ref name="uaestories2025">{{cite news |date=10 May 2025 |title=Luxury to Legal Trouble: Balvinder Sahni's Fall From Grace |url=https://uaestories.com/luxury-to-legal-trouble-balvinder-sahnis-fall-from-grace/ |work=UAE Stories}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Aghaddir |date=2 May 2025 |title=Dubai-based Indian billionaire gets 5 years in jail for money laundering |url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/crime/dubai-indian-billionaire-owner-of-no-5-car-plate-gets-5-years-in-jail-for-money-laundering-1.500114121 |access-date=12 July 2025 |website=Gulf News|language=en}}</ref>

== Philanthropy ==
Prior to his legal troubles, Sahni contributed to charitable causes in India, including funding hospitals and old-age homes in Punjab.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 May 2025 |title=From $100 Million Mansion To Prison: A Look At Dubai-Based Indian Billionaire's Ultra Luxurious Life |url=https://in.mashable.com/culture/93753/from-100-million-mansion-to-prison-a-look-at-dubai-based-indian-billionaires-ultra-luxurious-life |access-date=12 July 2025 |website=Mashable India |language=en-in}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Sahni was also known by the nickname "Abu Sabah".<ref>{{Cite web |title=UAE: Indian billionaire jailed, to be deported in money laundering case |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/crime/indian-businessman-abu-sabah-5-year-jail-deportation-money-laundering |access-date=12 July 2025 |website=Khaleej Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=3 May 2025 |title=Indian-origin billionaire businessman 'Abu Sabah' jailed for money laundering in Dubai |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2025/05/03/indian-origin-billionaire-businessman-abu-sabah-jailed-for-money-laundering-in-dubai |access-date=12 July 2025 |website=Al Arabiya English |language=en}}</ref> He lived in [[Palm Jumeirah]], Dubai.<ref name="news18">{{cite news |date=10 May 2025 |title=Who is Balwinder Singh Sahni, Indian billionaire jailed for money laundering in Dubai? |url=https://www.news18.com/world/who-is-balwinder-singh-sahni-indian-billionaire-jailed-for-money-laundering-in-dubai-ws-kl-9325237.html |work=[[News18]]}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sahni, Balvinder Singh}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Indian people imprisoned abroad]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Indian expatriates in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Indian people convicted of money laundering]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian businesspeople]]

Balvinder Singh Sahni - Revision history

Orthodhaval: creating a biography more to come!