Mumbai: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Mumbai Crime Branch has detained actor Sahil Khan in connection with the Mahadev betting app case.
Khan was apprehended on Saturday from Chhattisgarh, where he had reportedly been evading authorities for nearly 40 hours, news agency ANI reported.
The move came after his attempts to secure a pre-arrest bail failed as the Bombay High Court rejected his plea. Khan had left Mumbai, constantly changing his location to evade authorities.
The actor is accused of running a betting site and promoting illegal betting activities. His name surfaced during the investigation of the Mehadev betting app case by the Matunga Police in Mumbai.
In December 2023, the SIT of the Mumbai cyber cell had issued a summons to Sahil Khan and three others, directing them to appear before the authorities for questioning. However, Khan failed to comply with the summons, prompting intensified efforts by law enforcement agencies to locate and apprehend him.
The alleged size of the scam is estimated to be around Rs 15,000 crore, as per the first information report (FIR) filed in the case. Notably, one of the chief accused, Ravi Uppal, was detained in Dubai last year by local authorities based on a red corner notice issued by Interpol at the behest of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Known for his roles in films like ‘Style’ and ‘Excuse Me’, Khan has transitioned into the fitness industry in recent years, working as a fitness expert and founder of Divine Nutrition, a company specialising in fitness supplements such as whey protein, creatine, and muscle gainers, the report said.
