The Civil Court has ordered Askoi Group to pay MVR 185,250 to a family that was left stranded after paying for an Umrah pilgrimage that never took place. The ruling brings partial closure to a case that highlights ongoing concerns over Umrah travel operators and consumer protection.
Court Orders Refund and Legal Costs
According to the verdict issued by the Civil Court last Thursday, five members of a single family filed a case against Askoi Travel Services Private Limited after the company failed to take them for Umrah despite receiving full payment.
Court documents show that the family had paid MVR 155,250 in total for the pilgrimage. In addition to seeking a refund, they also requested compensation for legal expenses incurred while pursuing the case.
The ruling confirmed that Askoi Group and its managing head, Abdulla Rasheed of M. Fineshade, agreed to settle the full amount claimed. This includes MVR 155,250 paid for Umrah services and an additional MVR 30,000 to cover legal costs, bringing the total to MVR 185,250.
The court has ordered both Askoi Group and Abdulla Rasheed to make the payment within seven days from the date of the ruling.
The case follows earlier action taken by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs against Askoi Group. In July last year, the ministry revoked the company’s Umrah license after determining that it had collected money from multiple individuals without fulfilling its obligations.
Investigations revealed that 28 people had each paid MVR 25,500 for an Umrah trip scheduled for July. The total amount collected was MVR 714,000. However, the group cancelled the journey at the last minute.
Askoi reportedly told clients that travel to Saudi Arabia was unsafe at the time due to unrest in the Gulf region and claimed the trip would be postponed until conditions improved. For many affected families, the explanation raised more questions than answers.
Failure to Cooperate With Authorities
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs later stated that Askoi Group failed to respond to official communications regarding the issue. Letters sent to the company went unanswered, and the managing head did not engage with the ministry despite repeated attempts.
Due to this lack of cooperation, the ministry concluded that Askoi had breached regulations governing Umrah travel services. As a result, the company’s license was revoked, and the matter was referred to the Maldives Police Service for further investigation.
According to official company registry records, Askoi Travel Services Private Limited is owned by Abdulla Rasheed and Ahmed Sanil. Records also show that another business entity has been registered under the name Askoi Hajj Umrah Group.
The Civil Court ruling adds to growing scrutiny of Umrah operators and reinforces the legal consequences faced by companies that fail to deliver services promised to pilgrims.
