Salman Khan’s brother and Bollywood actor Arbaaz Khan on Saturday confessed to be involved in betting for IPL matches. The 50-year-old actor made the confession before the anti-extortion cell of Thane police in Mumbai. The actor was made to sit opposite the alleged bookie Sonu Jalan, when he made the revelation.
According to various media reports, Arbaaz was brought to record his statement earlier on Saturday after a connection was established between the actor and Sonu Jalan after he was arrested earlier. Sonu also know as Sonu Malad, is known to be one of the biggest bookies in India and was arrested on May 15 along with three others in Mumbai. According to Pradeep Sharma, Senior Inspector and head of the AEC said that both of them have known each other for five years.
Sonu Jalan is said to be the alleged kingpin of the betting racket in the IPL and has mentioned several famous names in the statement he gave the police who bet large amounts of money on the IPL teams. The police officer with the cell said that actor Arbaaz Khan placed bets during one of the past IPL seasons through Jalan. During the time, there was a huge transaction between the two. However, he went on to say that Khan was blackmailed into paying crores, the threat being that his gambling habit would be exposed. But all this will be probed once Khan gives his side of the story.
Arbaaz Khan is said to have paid Jalan over three crores but nothing is concrete till now and inspector Pradeep Sharma has said that the AEC still needs to corroborate it with evidence and statements of those who are linked with the racket.