The Mumbai police cyber cell’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested actor and fitness coach Sahil Khan on April 27 in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, in connection with the Mahadev betting app scam. The Bombay High Court had previously denied his request for pre-arrest bail.
Sahil Khan is known for his roles in movies like Style and Excuse Me, but he initially gained fame through a musical video of Stereo Nation’s Nachange Sari Raat. He has also been recognized for his fitness awareness efforts, winning awards from various Mumbai-based organizations. Khan was married to actress Negar Khan from 2003 to 2005. In recent social media posts, he refers to his girlfriend Milena as his ‘wife’ and has disclosed that they officially tied the knot after getting engaged in Russia.
Social activist Prakash Bankar filed an FIR against Khan and several other accused in November 2023 for their involvement and endorsement of betting apps. The FIR alleges that multiple web portals and social media platforms, including Khan’s Khiladi Book, were used to promote the Mahadev app and entice users to invest and register.
The Mahavir App Betting Scam is being investigated by the SIT, CBI, and ED. The SIT is currently probing alleged unlawful transactions between specific financial and real estate firms and backers of the controversial app. The scam is estimated at around 15,000 crore, and an inquiry is ongoing involving Khan and 31 others. Authorities are examining their bank accounts, mobile phones, laptops, and other technical devices.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) / Economic Offence Wing (EOW) in Chhattisgarh has apprehended two individuals linked to the purported unlawful activities of the online gaming and betting application. Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has detained nine individuals as part of its separate investigation.
The FIR names former Chhatisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and app promoters Ravi Uppal, Saurabh Chandrakar, Shubham Soni, Anil Kumar Agrawal, and 14 others as suspects. They are accused of facilitating live betting and gambling via WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram, and other social media platforms. The promoters allegedly 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.
