Mahadev Betting App Scam: Sahil Khan’s Arrest and Allegations Explained

The recent arrest of Bollywood actor Sahil Khan by the Mumbai Police has brought attention back to the multi-crore money laundering scam associated with the Mahadev Online Book application. Sahil Khan, along with 31 others, including several Bollywood celebrities, is under investigation by the Mumbai Police Special Investigation Team (SIT). The probe involves alleged illegal transactions between the app promoters and financial and real estate firms. Several law enforcement agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), are investigating the case, which revolves around money laundering and illegal betting in live sports through the Mahadev app.

The case came to light last year after the lavish wedding of one of the app promoters caught the attention of the ED. The agency uncovered a major scam involving nearly ₹200 crore spent in cash for the event in the United Arab Emirates. The betting scam also involves allegations of match-fixing in major cricket matches and tournaments in India, amounting to nearly Rs 15,000 crore. Actor Sahil Khan, accused of promoting the Mahadev app and allegedly being the owner of another betting application called ‘The Lion Book,’ was arrested on April 27 after the Bombay High Court rejected his pre-arrest bail plea. The investigation revealed the use of 67 betting websites, more than 2,000 bogus SIM cards, and over 1,700 fake bank accounts. The accused used platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp to trap victims, including the younger generation, in their illegal betting network.