Bengaluru, 2 May

High Court refused to grant anticipatory bail to a police inspector and Deputy Superintendent of Police, who are among the Bitcoin scam case accused.

The bail petitions of inspector Chandradhara SR and Deputy Superintendent of Police Shridhar K Pujar, who are accused number three and five in the case were earlier rejected by a sessions court.

Justice Rajendra Badamikar highlighted concerns about manipulation of records and destruction of evidence, given the positions held by the petitioners. He emphasised that the allegations included attempts to destroy evidence, making their bail petitions devoid of merit.

Special Public Prosecutor BN Jagadeesha, representing Crime Investigation Department (CID), argued that the accused officers were involved in the transfer of funds and Bitcoins.

The CID also contended that the officers colluded with other accused individuals to destroy evidence and evade legal consequences.

Bitcoin scam had surfaced during the previous BJP regime in 2021, and Congress then in the Opposition had accused the government of trying to cover up the scandal as it involved big names. The prime suspect, Srikrishna Ramesh, was accused of hacking the State’s e-procurement site and siphoning off Rs 11.5 crore.

There were also charges of cryptocurrency theft, drug peddling and cyber fraud relating to the case. -PTI