In connection with the Mahadev betting app scam, actor and fitness coach Sahil Khan was apprehended by the Mumbai police cyber cell’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh on April 27. This arrest came after the Bombay High Court denied his request for pre-arrest bail. Social activist Prakash Bankar filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Khan and several other accused in November 2023 for their involvement in 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 scam is estimated to have reached approximately 15,000 crore, and the SIT is currently investigating potential illegal transactions between certain financial and real estate firms and the app’s backers. Investigations are ongoing regarding Khan and 31 others, with their bank accounts, electronic devices, and other belongings being examined. Furthermore, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) / Economic Offence Wing (EOW) in Chhattisgarh has apprehended two individuals connected to the alleged illicit operations of the online gaming and betting app. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also detained nine individuals as part of its separate investigation.
