Bitcoin scam: CID initiates probe against CCB

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Karnataka police has launched an investigation against unnamed officers of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) for their alleged involvement in tampering with evidence related to the bitcoin scam case.

An FIR has been filed with Cottonpet police under sections 204 (destruction of evidence) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, based on a complaint from CID Deputy Superintendent of Police Ravishankar.

The CCB, initially responsible for investigating the bitcoin scam case when it emerged in November 2020, is now under scrutiny for tampering with digital evidence while it was in their custody.

CID officers have questioned the hacker, Srikrishna Ramesh, alias SriKi, multiple times as part of their investigation into his role and to determine the extent of investigators' involvement in evidence tampering.

The bitcoin scam came to light when SriKi was arrested by the CCB in connection with a drug peddling case. It was revealed that he had used bitcoins on the dark web to purchase drugs from international dealers and was involved in various online crimes.

The CID's complaint alleges that digital forensic analysis showed that devices seized from SriKrishna's associates between November 9 and November 19, 2020, had been tampered with, indicating possible movement of bitcoins during their custody at the CCB office in Bengaluru.

This investigation highlights the complexity of handling digital evidence and the potential consequences of tampering with such evidence in high-profile cases.