Mahadev betting app case: Sahil Khan detained in Chhattisgarh; actor apprehended in legal case

PTC News Desk: Actor and fitness influencer Sahil Khan has been detained from Chhattisgarh by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the Mahadev betting app case, as reported by the news agency PTI citing Mumbai Police. This development follows the Bombay High Court's dismissal of Khan's pre-arrest bail plea just days earlier.

The High Court, in its ruling, asserted Khan's direct involvement with the online betting application, leading to the denial of his bail plea. Khan, known for his role in "Style," was among the accused named in the FIR, which had been transferred to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for thorough investigation.

In his defense, Khan had argued that his role was limited to being a brand promoter under an Influencer Engagement Agreement with M/s. Isports247, a sports management company, for promoting the brand ‘The Lion Book’. However, Justice SV Kotwal, presiding over a single-judge bench, disagreed with Khan's claims.

Justice Kotwal emphasized the illegality of the entire operation, citing the involvement of significant sums of money, creation of fictitious bank accounts, and the use of numerous fake SIM cards. According to the court's order, Khan was directly linked to the betting app 'The Lion Book247'.

The investigation by the EOW uncovered a network of 67 betting websites, each controlled from foreign destinations. It was revealed that over 2,000 bogus SIM cards, acquired with fake documents, were utilized to entice individuals into placing bets on various games. Additionally, more than 1,700 bank accounts, opened using false documentation, facilitated the collection and withdrawal of funds, which were subsequently laundered through Hawala channels and cryptocurrency.

The initial FIR was lodged by the Matunga Police in November 2023 following a complaint by social activist Prakash Bankar. Bankar alleged the operation of several web portals designed for online betting and gambling on sports such as cricket, football, tennis, as well as card games like “teen patti”.