Arbaaz Khan was summoned for recording his statement in connection with an alleged IPL betting racket.
Highlights
- Arbaaz Khan allegedly lost Rs 2.8 crore to a bookie, Sonu Jalan
- During actor's questioning, he was brought face-to-face with Sonu Jalan
- Police busted the racket on May 15 with the arrest of four people
Bollywood actor and film-maker Arbaaz Khan has admitted that he used to place bets during Indian Premier League or IPL matches, the police has said. Arbaaz Khan, 50, has told the police in Maharashtra's Thane, where he is being questioned today, that he has been placing bets for the last six years, cops added.
"My statement has been recorded. Police asked whatever they needed in this investigation and I answered them. I will continue to cooperate with them," Arbaaz Khan said after his questioning.
Arbaaz Khan allegedly lost Rs 2.80 crore to a bookie, Sonu Jalan, in bets on IPL matches and was not paying the amount, following which the bookie had threatened the actor, an official said, citing the interrogation of the arrested accused.
Today, during Arbaaz Khan's questioning, he was brought face-to-face with Sonu Jalan.
"We called him. We took his statement. He has cooperated with us," said investigation officer Pradeep Sharma.
The Thane police yesterday issued summons to Arbaaz Khan to record his statement today in connection with the betting racket.
In a letter sent to Arbaaz Khan, the police asked him to join the probe after the arrest of Sonu Jalan, who was placing bets on the recently-concluded IPL, a police official had said.
The Thane Police's Anti-Extortion Cell had busted the racket on May 15 with the arrest of four people in Mumbai, including Sonu Jalan, who is believed to be one of the top bookies of the country, officials have said.
During the investigation, a "connection" between Jalan and Arbaaz Khan was established, said Pradeep Sharma, Senior Inspector and head of the Anti-Extortion Cell, yesterday.
Sonu Jalan allegedly had a diary with details of clients and bookies. The police say he worked for a kingpin of cricket betting who goes by the name of "Junior Kolkata". Sonu Jalan, according to reports, was first arrested in 2008 for IPL betting. He allegedly has links with Karachi-based terrorist Dawood Ibrahim.
Another film personality, Vindu Dara Singh, was arrested in 2013 by the Mumbai police for cricket betting, specifically spot fixing. He was later released on bail.
The cash-rich IPL has been shadowed by gambling controversies since it started in 2008.