MUMBAI – Indian police summoned a brother of Bollywood superstar SalmanKhan Friday for questioning over illegal gambling on Indian Premier Leaguecricket matches.

The IPL has been dogged by gambling controversies since it started in 2008,and police say they have smashed a number of betting syndicates acrossIndia during this year´s season, which ended Saturday.

“We have summoned Arbaaz Khan for questioning in connection to the IPLbetting scam,” Thane police spokesperson Sukhada Narkar told AFP.

“Further details will be available once his questioning is done and hisstatement is recorded,” Narkar added.

Media reports said Arbaaz´s name surfaced in an investigation intohigh-profile bookie Sonu Jalan, who is said to run an internationalgambling operation stretching from India to the Middle East.

Arbaaz is an actor and younger brother of Bollywood megastar Salman Khan,known for his money-spinning movies, but who also faces his own legaltroubles.

Found guilty of killing rare antelopes while on a safari in Rajasthanstate, Salman is currently appealing a five-year jail term.

Gambling is illegal in India but the lucrative IPL has tempted speculatorsboth on and off the pitch.

A 2013 spot-fixing scandal led to the Chennai Super Kings and RajasthanRoyals being suspended for two seasons and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, aRajasthan Royals bowler, receiving a life ban along with teammates AnkitChavan and Ajit Chandila.

Scores of bookies were also arrested as part of the probe into allegationsthat players had underperformed in return for cash. – APP/AFP