Illegal funds were transferred by panel operators to the app promoters in the UAE through multiple bank accounts and as per the FIR, the scam is estimated at around ₹15,000 crore.
The Mumbai Police has arrested actor Sahil Khan for his alleged involvement in the Mahadev betting app case. He was arrested in Chhattisgarh by the Special Investigating Team (SIT) of Mumbai Police Cyber Cell after the Bombay High Court rejected his petition for interim bail.
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As per the official sources, Mr Khan had fled Mumbai and was on the run after his plea was rejected by the high court. The actor was arrested after over 40 hours long operation with the help of Chhattisgarh Police.
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Sahil Khan, who has worked in films like ‘Style’ and ‘Excuse Me’, is also popular as an influencer on social media. A Mumbai court remanded him to four days police custody after he was brought to the city from Chhattisgarh this morning.
Who is Sahil Khan
Known for his roles in Bollywood movies such as Style and Excuse Me, Khan initially gained fame through a musical video of Stereo Nation’s Nachange Sari Raat. The 47-year-old later transitioned into a fitness expert, winning awards from various Mumbai-based organisations for his fitness awareness efforts.
He married actress Negar Khan in 2003 and the couple subsequently divorced in 2005. Khan’s recent social media posts with girlfriend Milena, refer to her as his ‘wife’. He later disclosed that he had officially tied the knot after getting engaged in Russia.
Other Celebrities Involvement
Mumbai Police has put investigation charges against 32 people, including Sahil Khan. The cyber cell is also examining Sahil Khan’s bank accounts, mobile phones, laptops and other technical equipment. Earlier this week, actor Tamannaah Bhatia was summoned in connection with the promotion of a subsidiary app of Mahadev betting app.
The actor has been summoned by the Maharashtra cyber cell for allegedly promoting the Indian Premier League Matches (IPL) matches on the Fairplay betting app. The Mahadev betting app made headlines last year when actors Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, who have appeared in ads for the app, were summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning.
The Case
Recent developments show that the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) / Economic Offence Wing (EOW) in Chhattisgarh apprehended two individuals linked to the purported unlawful activities of the Mahadev online gaming and betting application.
Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has detained nine individuals as part of its separate investigation. Mahadev Online betting app was operated by Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal from Dubai. Both of them are from Chhattisgarh’s Bhilai.
In the FIR, former Chhatisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, and app promoters Ravi Uppal, Saurabh Chandrakar, Shubham Soni, Anil Kumar Agrawal, and 14 others have been named as suspects. The FIR outlines that these accused facilitated live betting and gambling via WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram, and other social media platforms.
The promoters set up various platforms and conducted unlawful online betting activities through panel operators/branch operators. They retained 70-80 percent of the illegal proceeds and distributed the remainder to panel operators/branch operators.
The FIR also mentions that the promoters and panel operators collectively earned around ₹450 crore per month through the online betting app following the imposition of lockdown measures in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
