Bitcoin case: Home Minister Araga Jnanendra asks Congress to provide evidence
Bengaluru, Nov 11: Accusing Congress leaders of creating unnecessary confusion over the alleged 'bitcoin scam', Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Thursday challenged them to provide evidence if any, to the investigating agencies.
He also accused the Congress of indulging in "hit and run" regarding the issue.
Pointing out that the accused in the bitcoin case, Srikrishna alias Sriki, was arrested during the Congress regime in connection with a brawl in a hotel, Jnanendra said, "Congress leaders knew who all were associated with him."
Let Congress leaders, without mixing politics in the bitcoin issue, provide evidence they have, the Home Minister was quoted as saying by his office in a statement.
Jnanendra also said there was no need to misread Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's Delhi visit in the backdrop of this row, as he had gone there concerning the development of the state and its administrative interest.
"The CM visiting Delhi and meeting leaders is nothing new," he added.
Bommai was on a two-day visit to the national capital, since Wednesday, during which he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union Ministers, including Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President J P Nadda.
There has been speculation for some time now about involvement of politically influential people in the scam after CCB officials seized bitcoins worth Rs 9 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.
While Congress leaders alleging involvement of senior BJP leaders, their family members and senior officials in the scam, have accused the government of trying to cover up, the ruling party too in its counter has alleged involvement of leaders from the grand old party.
Congress leader and MLA Priyank Kharge on Wednesday had even claimed that the bitcoin scam will cost Chief Minister Bommai his job and the BJP government will see a third CM this time too, as witnessed in 2008-13.
However, according to a statement from CMO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during today's meeting has asked Bommai not to bother about the issue and focus on welfare work for the people of the state.
The gesture reflects the solid support from the Prime Minister for Bommai's leadership, it said.
Meanwhile, continuing his attack on the BJP government regarding the bitcoin scam, state Congress President D K Shivakumar claimed that he has certain information and at the appropriate time he will speak about it.
"Someone is involved and an attempt is on to fix someone else. If they (BJP govt) know Congress people are involved, why are they delaying the arrest....they are trying to link some old drug case, to fix Congress leaders and their family members, to cause damage to the party. No one can cause damage to Congress," he said.
Urging the government to place the facts of the case and names of those involved before the people, Shivakumar said certain names and details are being selectively leaked to the media, by those in power, to protect some one.
On the bitcoin issue, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy said according to information that he has got, the accused has hacked into Jan Dhan accounts and transferred Rs 2 from each account, amounting to about Rs 6,000 crore, and that's the reason why PM Modi might have taken this case seriously, resulting in things coming out slowly.
Noting that there are too many speculations regarding involvement of senior police officers and politicians in the bitcoin scam, he also said that there are serious doubts about attempts of cover up.
Seeking to know who is working in favour of the main accused Sriki, in getting him a bail, he alleged attempts to protect some one.
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Double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra ties knot with tennis player Himani Mor
New Delhi: Javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra, one of India's most eligible bachelors, tied the knot with tennis player Himani Mor couple of days back in an intimate ceremony that has taken everyone by surprise.
The 27-year-old Chopra announced the marriage with the 25-year-old Himani, who hails from Haryana's Sonipat, on his social media handles.
"I began a new chapter of my life with my family. Grateful for every blessing that brought us to this moment together. Bound by love, happily ever after," Chopra wrote in a post with the pictures of the marriage ceremony.
Chopra's uncle Bhim told PTI that the marriage took place in the country and the couple has left for honeymoon.
Daughter of Chand Ram, Mor is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Sports Management (Major) at the Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire. She is an alumni of Delhi's Miranda House where she completed her bachelors degree in Political Science and Physical Education. He has a brother, Himanshu who is also a tennis player.
She participated at the 2017 World University Games in Taipei after competing at the national level for Delhi University. Her school website says she won a gold medal in the World Junior Tennis Championship held in Malaysia in 2016.
"Yes, the marriage took place in India two days back. I can't tell the place where it took place," Bhim told from his village at Khandra near Panipat in Haryana.
"The girl is from Sonipat and she is studying in the US. They have left the country for honeymoon and I am not aware of the places where they are going. We wanted to keep it like that," said Bhim, who stays with the Olympic double medallist at Khandra, when asked about the surprise development.
According to the All India Tennis Association (AITA) website, Himani's carrer best national ranking was 42 in singles and 27 in doubles in 2018. She started playing in 2018 only in AITA events.
Mor did her schooling at Little Angels School in Sonipat.
Amherst College in Massachusetts also lists her as an assistant coach of women's tennis as most major students can do some other job, along with study.
Chopra, who won a gold in Tokyo Olympics and a silver in the Paris Game, was earlier training in South Africa after he roped in world record holder javelin legend Jan Zelezny of Czech Republic.
