BJP trying to cover up bitcoin scam: Cong

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Congress party has said that the move to cover up the Bitcoin scam in Karnataka raises serious questions. The silence of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the entire issue is even more shocking, despite the fact that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had met both of them just two days ago.

AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and AICC Spokesperson Dr Gourav Vallabh have said that the country’s biggest ever Bitcoin scam has been unearthed in Karnataka, but instead of conducting a fair investigation, the BJP Government in Karnataka is preoccupied with “operation Bitcoin scam coverup”.

On November 14, 2020, an alleged hacker, Sri Krishna, alias Sriki, was arrested along with his associate Robin Khandelwal by the Karnataka Police. He was kept in police custody for 100 plus days by repeatedly arresting him in at least 5 criminal cases registered one after the other. On April 17, 2021, Sri Krishna was released on bail.

The Congress leaders wondered why despite Sriki’s involvement in multiple international crimes of significant magnitude, Interpol was not informed for over five months. Only on April 24, the Bengaluru police commissioner wrote to Interpol Liaison Officer (CBI) asking to inform Interpol and other agencies. Even ED,CBI and SFIO were kept in the dark by the State Government.

ED enquired about the same vide letter dated February 15, 2021 and was informed of one crime by the Karnataka BJP Government on March 3, 2021. The incumbent CM, Basavaraj Bommai, was the state Home Minister between August 20, 2019 and July 28 2021.

The Congress leaders said the alleged hacking of crypto currency exchange Bitfinex happened in August, 2016. News reports suggest that 1,20,000 Bitcoins were stolen. In his voluntary statement, Sri Krishna admits to having taken 2,000 Bitcoins. Bitfinex is registered in the British Virgin Islands, a tax haven.

In another case, cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e, a Russian portal, was hacked and Sriki claims to have stolen 3,000 bitcoins.

On January 8, 2021, Bengaluru Police recorded Panchnama reflecting recovery of 31 Bitcoins from Sriki. On Jan 12, 2021, the cops confirmed the seizure of 31 Bitcoins worth Rs 9 crore from Sri Krishna. On January 22, 2021, the police allegedly tried to recover 186 bitcoins from Sri Krishna (as reflected in the third Panchnama). According to police, the Bitcoins were never transferred.