No Bitcoin scam, says BJP; No foul play in investigation: Bengaluru police
Bengaluru, Nov 13: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday dismissed the Congress party's allegations on the Bitcoin issue cover-up, saying there was no scam.
The Bengaluru police too refuted the charges of foul play in the investigation and cover-up exercises.
"There has been absolutely no scam of whatsoever nature or dimension it could be. Therefore any questions of having any actors in this scam is a perverted imagination.
However, new actors have emerged making mountain out of a mole, and making baseless allegations, based on distorted facts of the case," BJP's Karnataka unit spokesperson Ganesh Karnik said in a statement.
He was reacting to Congress allegations that 'influential politicians' are involved in the scam after officials seized bitcoins worth Rs nine crore from a city based hacker, Srikrishna alias Sriki, who is also accused of hacking into government portals, sourcing drugs through the dark net and paying for it through cryptocurrency.
Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged in a press conference in Delhi on Saturday that the size of the scam could be much bigger because just on two days on December 1, 2020 and April 14, 2021 illegal transactions worth Rs 5240 crore took place. He posed a series of questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked what was the role of Karnataka Chief Minister Basaravaj Bommai, who was the state's home minister when the scam took place.
Surjewala also demanded to know why international investigative agencies, including the Interpol, were not informed about the stolen Bitcoins.
Apparently referring to the Congress leaders as 'new actors', Karnik said they were continuously carrying out a slanderous campaign by releasing distorted and partial facts for cheap popularity, "in utter disregard to the fact that the case is sub judice and pending before the Trial Court".
He claimed that neither had any Bitcoins been transferred from the account of hacker Srikrishna nor any bitcoin been lost.
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru police issued a statement to clear the air and said that the investigation was conducted by the Central Crime Branch "in a fair and professional manner."
"It is emphatically stated that such misleading versions are being floated based on incomplete/distorted facts. All such versions are vehemently denied," the police said.
Based on the credible information on November 4, 2020 on a drug consignment procured through the darknet, CCB Police secured one accused and seized 500 grams of Hydro Ganja.
During further investigation, 10 other accused persons, including Srikrishna, alias Sriki were secured and arrested.
During interrogation, Srikrishna confessed before the Investigating Officer about his involvement in alleged hacking of many Crypto Currency websites.
"It is stated that neither were any Bitcoins transferred from the account of hacker Srikrishna nor was any Bitcoin lost.
It is a fact that for the purpose of investigation of Crypto Currency, it was felt necessary to open a Bitcoin account," the police said.
It added that on December 8, 2020, government permission was obtained to open a Bitcoin account.
"During the process of identifying and seizure of bitcoins, accused Srikrishna showed a BTC wallet, which contained 31.8 BTC.
The wallet password was changed in the presence of cyber experts, Government panchas and the entire procedure was recorded under mahazer and submitted to the court," the police said.
Further, the Court's permission was obtained to use password to transfer the said Bitcoins to the police wallet account.
Upon reaching the said wallet shown by Srikrishna, it showed 186.811 Bitcoins, police said, adding that the Cyber experts opined that the said account claimed by the accused as his personal account was in fact a live wallet of an exchange and the accused did not have private key for this.
"Hence, the said account was left untouched and as a result, no BITCOINS were transferred to Police wallet. The case has been chargesheeted along with the above facts and related documents and is now subjudice," police said. They said that at no stage was anything done which could jeopardise a fair investigation and the process of law.
They claimed that investigation was done by a team of professional officers under close supervision and in continuous consultation and in the presence of reputed and external experts, without any external influence or interference.
On the claim made on Whale Alert's Twitter handle that 14,682 stolen bitfinex bitcoins were transferred, police said they were completely unsubstantiated.
"There is nothing to suggest that it had originated from Bengaluru. The law enforcement system and investigating agencies work on certain procedures laid down by law of the land," the statement read.
It further said that till date no foreign law enforcement agencies or any foreign companies have approached Bengaluru police about any hacking.
"Even representatives of Bitfinex company have neither shared any details of the alleged hack nor sought any information so far," police said.
On the claims of Srikrishna about high volume hacking of websites, police said the careful examination of digital evidence by the cyber experts revealed that majority of his claims were unsubstantiated.
It also said that Bengaluru police have informed CBI, Enforcement Directorate and Interpol through proper channels this year.
Regarding the charge that Srikrishna was allegedly forced to consume Alprazolam during police custody, police said that on the direction of the court, his blood and urine samples were collected at Bowring Hospital and submitted to the Forensic Science Laboratory for scientific examination.
After examination, the FSL gave a negative report, stating that there was no presence of drugs, police said.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
