SUMMARY
Khan is one of 32 individuals charged with promoting the betting app
Khan stands accused of promoting betting apps such as Lion Book and Lotus 24/7, which have connections to the Mahadev app, on various online platforms
This development comes days after the promoters of the app had devised plans to relocate their operations from Dubai to Zimbabwe
In another major development linked to the INR 15,000 Cr Mahadev online betting app case, Bollywood actor Sahil Khan was detained from Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur after a 40-hour-long operation by the Mumbai police.
As per NDTV’s report, Khan is one of 32 individuals charged with promoting the betting app. The actor was apprehended after the Bombay High Court rejected his pre-arrest bail plea.
Khan has been sent to police custody till May 1.
The 47-year-old actor is known for starring in Bollywood films like ‘Style’, ‘Excuse Me’, ‘Aladdin’ and ‘FALTU’. He is recognised not only for his acting prowess but also as a fitness entrepreneur.
Khan stands accused of promoting betting apps such as Lion Book and Lotus 24/7, which have connections to the Mahadev app, on various online platforms. According to the police, he also has a stake in the Lotus Book 24/7 app.
As per the report, the Mumbai Crime Branch summoned the actor, along with three others, for questioning in December 2023 regarding their purported involvement in promoting the Mahadev betting app. During the investigation, authorities discovered that the actor not only endorsed the Lion Book app but also took part in their events.
However, Khan said that he has no direct connection with the gambling platform.
After being questioned by the Mumbai Police SIT, Khan applied for anticipatory bail. The SIT is currently investigating illegal transactions between financial and real estate firms and the promoters of the INR 15,000 Cr Mahadev betting app.
All electronic devices linked to the actor are also undergoing examination, reported NDTV.
This development comes days after the promoters of the app had devised plans to relocate their operations from Dubai to Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, in March, the Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing filed a case against former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and others based on an Enforcement Directorate investigation report. Baghel, along with Mahadev app promoters Ravi Uppal, Saurabh Chandrakar, Shubham Soni, Anil Kumar Agrawal, and 14 others, have been named as accused in the FIR.
In the same month, the ED arrested two more individuals, Girish Talreja and Suraj Chokhani, as part of its investigation into the Mahadev betting app scam.
Founded by Uppal and Chandrakar, the Mahadev app, at the centre of controversy, is an online platform where users can engage in live gambling across various games, including poker, cricket, badminton and tennis, among others.
The scam gained attention following Chandrakar’s opulent wedding in Dubai in February 2023, allegedly costing north of INR 200 Cr. The wedding saw performances by the likes of Vishal Dadlani, Tiger Shroff, Sunny Leone, Neha Kakkar, Nushrratt Bharuccha, and many others.
Seven months later, the ED began its crackdown and announced that it unearthed the Mahadev app online betting scam. The agency also questioned multiple Bollywood celebrities in the case. In January this year, it filed a chargesheet in a special court in Raipur following its probe.
Actors Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, and Tamannaah Bhatia have been summoned for questioning regarding their promotion of the betting app and its subsidiaries.
