Bitcoin scam: Cong for judicial probe

Former minister Priyank Kharge suspects role of top BJP politicians in the sensational scandal

By NT Corresponsdent

Bengaluru, Nov.12:

Former minister and Congress MLA Priyank Kharge has demanded a probe by a sitting judge and a Supreme Court monitored investigation into the alleged Bitcoin scam in which Bitcoin worth Rs 9 crore was seized from a Bengalurubased hacker, Srikrishna by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) earlier this year. The hacker allegedly broke into government portals and sourced drugs through the darknet while paying for it via Bitcoin.
“I have my strong doubts about the involvement of BJP politicians in this scam. An impartial probe will clear the doubts”, claimed Kharge at a news conference here on Friday. He said there were a lot of unanswered questions in this alleged scam. The hacker was arrested by Bengaluru Police in November last year and was taken to a medical college for medical examination instead of Victoria Hospital. It was alleged that doctors did a stomach wash of the accused Besides, Srikrishna’s father had accused the cops of poisoning him and then taking him to the medical college for treatment. These acts of the police need to be probed and then only the truth will come out, Priyank aserted.
He claimed that the accused had hacked into 3 Bitcoin exchanges, 14 websites, including 10 poker websites, and exploited malwares. The total amount involved is not yet clear but it is speculated to be around Rs 2,283 crores. Priyank wondered why this was not conveyed to more competent authorities?
The former minister said the ‘Bitcoin scam’ will cost CM Basavaraj Bommai his job and the BJP government will see a third CM this time too as it happened in 2008-13. “This government is trying to cover up the Bitcoin scam systematically. BJP senior leaders, their children and officials are involved...It is a multicrore scam, drugs case kickbacks and transfer of kickback has happened through bitcoin. Investment scams have also happened,” the MLA alleged.
“What is causing the delay... why is the CM delaying(the probe)? Why is the Home Minister delaying it? The Home Minister seems to be unaware of things. He has to take responsibility as his own officials are involved. Srikrishna, the main accused in the case, has become the prized possession of the BJP...if there is a transparent and impartial probe, details will come out in 10 days,” he said, claiming that the scam came to light when the US economic offences wing flagged it to the PMO during PM Modi’s visit to that country.