Sahil Khan detained by SIT in Mahadev betting app case
Actor and fitness influencer Sahil Khan has been detained by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Chhattisgarh on Sunday. This action is part of the ongoing investigation into the Mahadev betting app case, reported PTI, citing Mumbai Police. The Bombay High Court had previously rejected Khan's plea for pre-arrest bail due to his direct involvement with the controversial online betting application.
'Celebrity status was used for brand promotion': Khan defended himself
Khan, known for his role in the 2001 film Style, defended himself by stating that "his celebrity status was used solely for brand promotion." He cited an "Influencer Engagement Agreement signed on February 21, 2022, with sports management company M/s. Isports247 to promote [the brand] The Lion Book." However, a single-judge bench of Justice SV Kotwal dismissed Khan's defense, stating, "The entire operation is illegal."
'Applicant is directly connected with the App The Lion Book247'
Justice Kotwal further highlighted, "A huge amount is involved...The applicant is directly connected with the App The Lion Book247." Further, it noted that the Economic Offences Wing's (EOW) investigation uncovered 67 betting websites controlled from "foreign destinations." "The probe found that more than 2,000 bogus SIM cards...were used to lure gullible people to place bets on various games. Over 1,700 bank accounts opened using fake documents were used to collect and withdraw money...subsequently routed through Hawala channels, cryptocurrency," it added.
Khan's role extended beyond brand promotion: Police
The initial FIR was filed by Matunga Police following a complaint by social activist Prakash Bankar, who claimed that multiple web portals were set up for online betting on sports and card games. The police asserted that Khan's role extended beyond brand promotion, directly associating him with The Lion Book app. The court was informed that Khan had listed the apps he partnered with on his Instagram post, but later removed The Lion Book from it.
What is the Mahadev Betting App case?
Per the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Mahadev app functioned as a syndicate, facilitating online platforms for various betting websites. Allegedly, it engaged in laundering money through a sophisticated process, with its promoters accruing substantial profits worth crores of rupees. The illicit funds generated were utilized for bribing politicians and bureaucrats. Additionally, numerous Bollywood actors, such as Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, and Kapil Sharma, were summoned by the agency last year for interrogation, concerning their ties with the app.
