Sahil Khan, known for his roles in films like ‘Style’ and ‘Xcuse Me’, and a prominent fitness influencer, was arrested by a Special Investigating Team (SIT) of the Mumbai Police Cyber Cell.
The arrest took place in Chhattisgarh after a tense 40-hour chase spanning five states, including Goa, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
This operation came shortly after the Bombay High Court rejected his plea for anticipatory bail. Known for his work in early 2000s cinema and as a fitness influencer, Khan’s arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the investigation of the Mahadev betting app, a platform linked to illicit gambling and money laundering activities.
Details of the Mahadev Betting App Case
The Mahadev betting app, controlled from a central office in the UAE, is at the center of an alleged Rs 15,000 crore illegal betting and money laundering scandal. Operated by Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal from Dubai, this network reportedly made regular payments to police, bureaucrats, and politicians to evade legal scrutiny. The Enforcement Directorate has been probing the app for significant financial irregularities and hawala transactions.
Sahil Khan’s Role in the Case
Sahil Khan’s involvement includes ownership and promotion of ‘The Lion Book247’, a betting platform under the Mahadev app umbrella. His promotional activities, which included convincing followers on social media of lucrative returns through lucky draws, flagged him as a key figure in this illegal operation. Justice Sarang V Kotwal, during the bail hearing, pointed out Sahil Khan’s direct connection to the illegal betting network, influencing his followers into participating in these unlawful activities.
After his bail plea got rejected, Sahil Khan fled Mumbai, initiating a multi-state run to evade capture. His journey included brief stops in Goa, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, continuously altering his location to stay ahead of the law enforcement agencies tracking him. He was ultimately captured in a hotel in Chhattisgarh, where he had taken refuge.
Sahil Khan was brought before a Mumbai court following his arrest and remanded to police custody until May 1. The SIT is examining his bank accounts, mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic devices to gather more evidence against him and other suspects linked to this sprawling betting network. The investigation extends to 31 other individuals suspected of connections with the betting syndicate.
The scandal includes many other celebrities who have been linked directly with the case. Actor Tamannaah Bhatia was recently summoned by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell for promoting an illegal IPL streaming betting app which was a subsidiary of Mahadev betting app. Last year, prominent actors Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor were also questioned by the Enforcement Directorate regarding their promotional activities linked to the Mahadev app.
With Sahil Khan now in custody, authorities anticipate a deeper understanding of the betting app’s operations and its financial networks. Mumbai police remain vigilant in dismantling this sprawling illegal network that spans multiple states and international borders.
