BJP drags Congress leader Siddaramaiah's late son into alleged bitcoin scam
Bengaluru, Nov 18: As the Karnataka BJP on Thursday tweeted a picture of his late son Rakesh with associates of alleged bitcoin scam accused Srikrishna alias Sriki, senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah hit back at the ruling party accusing it of trying to hide its "corruption" and attempting to get personal to pursue "dirty agenda" in politics.
He also urged Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to order a judicial enquiry into the alleged scam by the Supreme Court judge, including the term of the Congress government headed by him.
"Karnataka BJP is trying to hide their corruption by bringing the name of my deceased son. I urge CM of Karnataka to order a judicial enquiry by Supreme Court to investigate into the bitcoin scam, including our term," the former Chief Minister tweeted.
"It has been five years since my son left us, but our family is still grieving. It is unfortunate he will not be able to reply to the allegations on him. Karnataka BJP is trying to get personal to pursue their dirty agenda in politics," he alleged.
He was responding to tweets by Karnataka BJP with a picture of his late son Rakesh Siddaramaiah posing with Hemant Muddappa and Suneesh Hegde.
"Hemant Muddappa and Suneesh Hegde had a close friendship with bitcoin hacker Sriki. It is mentioned in the police document that they had hacked a gaming site and e-portal through Sriki. Please see who is with Suneesh Hegde and Hemant here," BJP had said in a tweet with the photo.
"It is our belief that you will recognise all those with Hemant Muddappa and Suneesh Hegde in this photo. If that belief is true, the bitcoin hacking scam began during your tenure. Mr Siddaramaiah, you have accurate information about it, right?" the BJP said.
Alleging that illegal activities like drugs and bitcoin were taking place in a hookah bar at a prestigious hotel in Bengaluru, BJP further stated that people like Sriki, Hemant Muddappa and Suneesh Hegde might have "roamed around" Siddaramaiah's residence.
Hitting back at BJP for alleging that his son Rakesh was seen with Srikrishna's friend, Siddaramaiah asked, "Then how can we interpret the photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Nirav Modi (alleged fugitive) during the 2018 World Economic Forum?"
He further said, "It is alleged that an important Karnataka BJP leader had received bitcoin as quid pro quo for mediating the release of Hemant Muddappa when he was arrested with Srikrishna. Nalin Kumar Kateel (State BJP president) may know who that leader is."
Rakesh had died of multi-organ failure at a hospital in Belgium in 2016, at the age of 39. Siddaramaiah was Chief Minister then.
There have been speculations for some time now about the involvement of politically-influential people in the alleged scam after CCB officials claimed recovery of bitcoins worth Rs nine crore from a city-based hacker Sriki, who is also accused of hacking into government portals, sourcing drugs through the dark net and paying for it through cryptocurrency.
Congress leaders have alleged the involvement of senior BJP leaders, their family members and senior officials in the scam, and have accused the government of trying a cover-up. The BJP too in its counter has alleged involvement of leaders from the grand old party.
ನನ್ನ ಮಗ ರಾಕೇಶ್ ನಮ್ಮನಗಲಿ ಐದು ವರ್ಷಗಳಾಗಿವೆ, ಪುತ್ರಶೋಕ ನಿರಂತರ.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) November 18, 2021
ತನ್ನ ಮೇಲಿನ ಆರೋಪಕ್ಕೆ ಆತ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯಿಸಲೂ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ.
ಇಂತಹ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ@BJP4Karnataka ನನ್ನ ದಿವಂಗತ ಮಗನ ಹೆಸರನ್ನು ಎಳೆದು ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಮಾಡಲು ಹೊರಟಿರುವುದು "ಅತ್ಯಂತ ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ಮತ್ತು ಕ್ಷುಲಕತನದ' ರಾಜಕಾರಣ.
2/7@Bitcoin
ರಾಕೇಶ್ ಜೊತೆಗೆ
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) November 18, 2021
ಬಿಟ್ಕಾಯಿನ್ ಹಗರಣದ ಆರೋಪಿ ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣನ ಗೆಳೆಯ ಹೇಮಂತ್ ಮುದ್ದಪ್ಪ ಇದ್ದಾನೆ ಎಂದು ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಆರೋಪಿಸಿದೆ.
ಹಾಗಿದ್ದರೆ 2018ರಲ್ಲಿ ದಾವೋಸ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ವಿಶ್ವ ಆರ್ಥಿಕ ಶೃಂಗ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ @PMOIndia ಜೊತೆಗಿರುವ
ಬ್ಯಾಂಕ್ ಲೂಟಿಕೋರ ನೀರವ್ ಮೋದಿಯ ಪೋಟೊವನ್ನು ಹೇಗೆ ವ್ಯಾಖ್ಯಾನಿಸುವುದು?
3/7 pic.twitter.com/7znZHXfzT3
ಬಿಟ್ ಕಾಯಿನ್ ಹ್ಯಾಕರ್ ಶ್ರೀಕಿ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಹೇಮಂತ್ ಮುದ್ದಪ್ಪ ಹಾಗೂ ಸುನೀಶ್ ಹೆಗ್ಡೆ ಗಾಢ ಸ್ನೇಹ ಹೊಂದಿದ್ದರು.
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) November 18, 2021
ಶ್ರೀಕಿ ಮೂಲಕ ಗೇಮಿಂಗ್ ಸೈಟ್ & ಇ-ಪೋರ್ಟಲ್ ಹ್ಯಾಕ್ ಮಾಡಿಸಿದ್ದರು ಎಂಬುದು ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ದಾಖಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿದೆ!?
ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಡಿ, ಸುನೀಶ್ ಹೆಗ್ಡೆ & ಹೇಮಂತ್ ಯಾರ ಜೊತೆಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂದು ಒಮ್ಮೆ ನೋಡಿ.
2/n#Bitcoinಬುರುಡೆರಾಮಯ್ಯ pic.twitter.com/tTxX93roGb
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
