Thane (Maharashtra): In a sensational development Bollywood actor Arbaaz Khan has not only admitted to betting in the Indian Premier League (IPL) but also losing a large amount in the just concluded series, here on Saturday, official sources said.
His confession came before a team of Thane Anti Extortion Cell (AEC) which is probing the IPL betting scam since the past five-six years involving several billions of rupees.
Arbaaz, 50, who was summoned before the AEC, was confronted with a prominent bookie Sonu Jalan, 41, alias Sonu Batla, who was arrested five days ago from Thane, besides four other bookies nabbed late last month.
During his interrogation, the name of Khan cropped up besides some handwritten diary entries and a picture of the producer-actor with Jalan and others allegedly involved in IPL betting.
He admitted to betting a huge amount in the IPL series, that concluded on May 27, and losing an even bigger amount, estimated to run into several millions of rupees, but officials remained tightlipped on the exact figures.
Honouring the police summons issued on Friday, Arbaaz reached the AEC office in Thane on Saturday to record his statement, in which he has reportedly named several other Bollywood personalities who indulge in betting large amounts in IPL.
Later in the evening around 4 pm, Arbaaz was allowed to go home and while exiting out of the Thane ant-extortion cell office, he in reply to barrage of questions by media persons, only said, “I will cooperate in the police probe.”
Thane AEC Chief Pradeep Sharma is likely to make a detailed statement on the developments in the case later this evening.