EXCLUSIVE: Arbaaz Khan loses Rs 3 crore in betting, receives threats from D-gang

By Nishat Shamsi

on June 01, 2018

On May 29, 2018, the Anti-Extortion Cell arrested one of the topmost bookies of the country named Sonu Yogendra Jalan. An interrogation revealed many high profile names were associated with betting on the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Thane Crime Branch traced links to Salman Khan’s brother actor-producer Arbaaz Khan who was summoned for involvement in the scam.

If Thane police is to be believed, Arbaaz has been receiving threat calls from the underworld for past several months. These threats were being issued to him by the D-gang, but on the directions of the 42-year-old bookie Sonu Jalan aka Sonu Malad. The Dabangg maker lost Rs 3 crore in betting, and wasn’t returning the lost amount to the bookie syndicate

The Anti-Extortion Cell suspects that there is a direct link between Arbaaz and the international gangs who gamble money in IPL matches. And the same people are now after the celebrity’s life to extort their money. Crime Branch has gotten its hand on few pictures of Arbaaz along with bookie Sonu. The police doubts that Arbaaz was in touch with the bookie Sonu's racket and had bet a hefty amount.

According to our sources, bookie Sonu was blackmailing Arbaaz since several days. Arbaaz had bet money on quite many matches through Sonu but he lost around Rs 3 crore in betting. However, when Sonu asked the star for the money, he kept delaying the payment following which Sonu sought the underworld’s help to threaten Arbaaz. Sources in the know reveal Arbaaz lost money in Australia's Big Bash League, Pakistani Premiers league, Bangladesh and IPL matches.

The Crime Branch has recovered phone call recordings wherein Sonu has threatened Arbaaz. On the other side of the call, Arbaaz is heard saying that Bhai aka Salman is going to give him a big figure for Dabangg 3. As soon he gets the amount, he shall return Sonu’s money, Arbaaz tells Sonu on a call. Moreover, Sonu was repeatedly pressurizing Arbaaz that if he did not return the money, then his people would contact Salman directly.

On May 15, the Anti-Extortion Cell raided the Dombivli area and arrested 4 people. An investigation brought up Sonu Jalan’s name, and spectators have revealed that betting is now carried out through software which is used to bet on domestic and international matches. Sonu has been arrested for allegedly betting on the IPL season 2012.

Translated by Aayushi Sharma