Thane:-
The Dabangg producer- actor Arbaaz Khan has confessed to betting in the Indian Premier League to the anti-extortion cell at the Thane Police Station on 2 June. He was summoned by the Thane police on 1 June for a round of questioning on the alleged betting racket.
Khan spoke to the media after coming out of the anti-extortion cell and said that he will continue cooperating with the police.
“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
The crime branch deputy commissioner revealed that there are other accused whose names have come up during the probe with Arbaaz Khan and Sonu Jalan.
“6 accused have been arrested in cricket betting racket. Arbaaz Khan’s name came up in the case during interrogation of Sonu Jalan. Arbaaz’s statement has been recorded. Some new names have cropped up, action will be taken against them”: Abhishek Trimukhe, DCP (Crime)
During interrogation actor Arbaaz Khan confessed to having placed bets in IPL matches last year and had lost Rs 2.75 crores. However, he confirmed that he had not placed any bets during the recently-concluded IPL 2018. Khan also accepted that he had known Jalan over the past six years.
Who is Sonu Jalan?
Sonu Jalan is a 41 year old bookie. He was the kingpin of the 2013 IPL betting racket in which former cricketer S Sreesanth emerged as the top accused. The bookie Jalan was arrested in connection with the case on 15 May and was booked under sections 420, 465, 468, 471rw 34 of the IPC, section 4(A), 5 of the Gambling Act and also IT Act 66A at the Dombilivi police station.
He allegedly has links with Karachi-based terrorist Dawood Ibrahim.
Jalan, it is believed, dragged Khan into the betting racket and the actor paid him over Rs 3 crore. Khan was being blackmailed, the police said.