Bollywood Actor Sahil Khan Arrested in Multi-Crore Betting App Scam
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch detained actor and fitness trainer Sahil Khan on Sunday from a hotel in Chhattisgarh. He is best known for his roles in Style and Xcuse Me.
His arrest comes days after the Bombay High Court rejected his anticipatory bail application in connection with the alleged ₹15,000 crore Mahadev betting app scam.
The Mahadev Betting App Scandal
The case revolves around multiple online betting applications promoted through social media platforms like Instagram. These apps allegedly facilitated illegal gambling and transactions worth crores of rupees on cricket, football, and card games.
The Lion Book247 was one such app that had a direct connection to Sahil Khan, according to the FIR that social activist Prakash Bankar filed.
The 47-year-old actor had mentioned being a partner in the app on his Instagram page and was seen promoting it, promising cash rewards and gifts through lucky draws.
The police believe a chain of interconnected betting subsidiary apps was created, so if one was shut down, the others would remain operational. Sahil Khan is among 32 accused named in the FIR.
The Chase and Arrest
After the Bombay High Court rejected Khan’s pre-arrest bail plea last week, observing he was part of an “illegal betting syndicate”, he fled Mumbai.
The crime branch officers chased him across multiple states like Goa, Karnataka, and Telangana before finally tracking him down at a hotel in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, on Sunday morning.
Khan was subsequently produced before a holiday court and remanded to police custody for three days. The investigators are hopeful he will cooperate during the custodial interrogation, as he had allegedly not been forthcoming during previous questioning.
Scrutinizing Financial Dealings
As part of the probe, the police are examining the bank accounts, mobile phones, laptops, and other technical equipment of all the accused.
They are scrutinizing the financial transactions between certain real estate firms in the state and the promoters of the Mahadev betting application.
The Mumbai Police’s dedicated Special Investigation Team (SIT) is spearheading this extensive investigation into the multi-crore gambling racket that allegedly preyed on people through social media influence.
The Information is Collected from Live Mint and Times of India
