Actor Arbaaz Khan becomes witness in IPL betting case

Thane Police said actor Arbaaz Khan will be made a witness in the IPL betting case in which he recorded his statement last Saturday.

Producer Parag Sanghvi had also recorded his statement on Wednesday after he was summoned by Thane Anti Extortion Cell. He too will be made a witness in the case.

Khan had confessed to placing bets with prime accused Sonu Jalan during IPL matches. However, he had said in his statement that no financial transaction took place between the two.

Following the statements as well as evidence found in the case, Thane police decided to make him a witness to prove Jalan's betting business.

"I was summoned and I recorded my statement in the case and will cooperate whenever I am required to in the ongoing investigation," Arbaaz Khan told the media on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Jalan's former partner, Sameer Buddha - who is also the brother of a former cop Sohel Buddha - was summoned. In his statement, Buddha said he was partner with Jalan in an auto spare parts business but had not carried out any dealings in the betting business.

The car that Jalan used belonged to him and he had given it to him as a settlement when they wrapped up their business venture. Producer Parag Sanghvi - who had produced movies like Sarkar and Partner - was summoned as Jalan said he was his business partner.

Sanghvi's production house K Sera Sera has produced around 20 Bollywood movies. In his statement to the police, Sanghvi said he had met Jalan in a Juhu-based hotel. When a case was registered against Sonu in Mumbai, he stopped communication with him. He has not had any communication with him for the past year and a half.

"I have told police everything in my statement, I knew him for the past five years but when I found out he was a bookie I ceased any communication with him. I have no role in the case," Sanghvi told India Today.

Sanghvi's statements under 164 CRPC will be recorded in front of a magistrate.

Senior Police Inspector Pradeep Sharma from Thane Anti Extortion cell said, "We have recorded Sanghvi's statement and he says he has not had any communication with Jalan for the past few years. He met him through a friend but was not in touch with him neither was he involved in the betting business. We will make Arbaaz Khan and Sanghvi witnesses in the case. If need be we will summon them again. Meanwhile the name of Amit Jalan, a builder, has emerged during interrogations with Sonu Jalan and it will be probed."

Amit is based in Malad in Mumbai's western suburbs. He has invested a lot of money with Sonu Jalan in the betting business. Investigators will probe if Amit had indeed invested in the betting business or in the some other business deals. Sonu had a flat in a building constructed by Amit Jalan.

Amit and Sonu have three flats in Aurus Serenity, a building on Link road in Malad.

Watch: Arbaaz Khan admits to IPL betting