On Wednesday, the Bombay High Court dismissed the pre-bail plea filed by Sahil Khan. Mumbai Police’s Joint Commissioner (Crime) Lakhmi Gautam stated on Sunday that a special investigation team (SIT) of the Mumbai Police Crime Branch has arrested actor and fitness influencer Sahil Khan from Jagdalpur district in Chhattisgarh in connection with the Mahadev betting app case.
In Short
official statement
For a continuous span of 40 hours, he traversed from the coastal shores of Goa through the verdant landscapes of Karnataka, then journeyed onwards to the bustling cityscape of Hyderabad, only to find himself apprehended in the serene precincts of Jagdalpur. We will present him in the local court,” the official told.
#WATCH | Actor Sahil Khan brought to Mumbai from Chhattisgarh. He has been arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch's SIT in connection with the Mahadev Betting App case.
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2024
“I believe in the judiciary of the country, " he says pic.twitter.com/HirOzizuXb
Police custody for Sahil Khan
Actor Sahil Khan was presented in a court in Dadar, where he was remanded to police custody until May 1st. This incident comes days after the Bombay High Court dismissed Khan’s pre-bail plea. The High Court stated that he was “directly involved in online betting applications.”
The actor known for his distinct style, implicated alongside others in the FIR, and subsequently referred to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for scrutiny, contended in his defense that his role as a public figure was solely confined to endorsing brands. ,” with M/s. Isports247, a sports management company, for promoting the brand ‘The Lion Book’,” an influencer engagement deal on February 21, 2022. However, the Single Bench of Justice S.V. Kotwal expressed dissent.
Entire operation is illegal
“The entire operation is illegal. A significant amount is involved. Fake bank accounts are created. A large number of fake SIM cards are used. Justice Kotwal stated in his order dismissing the plea, ‘The applicant is directly connected with the app ‘The Lion Book247’.”
The bench also noted that during EOW’s investigation, it was found that there were 67 betting websites, each controlled from “foreign destinations.”
According to the inquiry, almost 2,000 fictitious SIM cards were utilised to trick gullible individuals into placing bets on different sports by posing as official documents. Over 1,700 fraudulent bank accounts, initiated with counterfeit documentation, were utilized for the accumulation and withdrawal of funds, subsequently funneled through underground hawala networks and digital currencies.
The FIR was initially filed by the Matunga police in November 2023, based on a complaint filed by social worker Prakash Bankar, alleging that several web portals were designed for online betting/gambling on sports such as cricket, football, tennis, and card games like “teen patti,” etc.
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