IPL betting case: Bollywood producer, former cop’s brother summoned

Police say bookie Sonu Jalan used gangster Ravi Pujari to extort money

The Thane anti-extortion cell on Monday summoned producer Parag Sanghvi and Samir Buddha, brother of former policeman Sohail Buddha, in connection with the IPL betting racket.

Parag Sanghvi has been asked to appear on June 5 to record his statement. (HT FILE)

Samir Buddha and Sanghvi have been asked to come by Tuesday morning to record their statements.

Samir’s brother Sohail served as assistant police inspector for 22 years before opting to take voluntary retirement.

Police said it was also found during investigation that prominent bookie Sonu Jalan, who has been arrested in the case, was using Samir’s four-wheeler to travel within the city. Police are also investigating Sohail Buddha’s role in the case.

Pradeep Sharma, senior police inspector, Thane anti-extortion cell said,”Dilip Ludhani, boss of the arrested bookie Sonu Jalan, is on the run. A few other top bookies are also on the run -- Kolkata Junior, Chirag Vallabh, Munir Khan and Kiran Malla. All these accused had taken the help of gangster Ravi Pujari to threaten and extort money from many bookies”.

Sharma added , “We are most likely to make actor Arbaaz Khan prime witness in the case.” Police said they have begun the process to get four websites banned in India -- www. betntake.com, www.diamondexchg.com, www.betnwatch.com and www.gemx.site.

Police are also investigating Ravi Pujari’s involvement in the betting racket.

They also said that the mobile phones that have been seized as part of the investigation are under scanner.