K’taka government to reopen Bitcoin scam, to get it probed thoroughly
Bengaluru, June 27: The Congress government in Karnataka on Tuesday said it will get the Bitcoin scam taken place during the previous BJP government thoroughly investigated.
The case is likely to be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Home Minister Dr Parameshwara has hinted.
Speaking to reporters in Hassan today, CM Siddaramaiah said all irregularities and scams of the BJP government including the Bitcoin scam will be probed.
Parameshwara charged that the BJP tried to close the matter but the Congress government will get it investigated.
''Regarding Bitcoin, I have said that whatever incident has happened will be thoroughly investigated. For whatever reason, the previous government had closed it. When we were in the opposition, we had said that we will get it investigated if we come to power. We will take all steps to reinvestigate it," Parameshwara told reporters here.
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He also said the Bengaluru Police Commissioner has written to the Director General of Police recommending that this case should be handed over to the CID for investigation. ''After discussion we will decide whether the case should be given to the CID or other agency. CID is capable. We have given it (CID) a new shape and senior officers have been deputed there. A new team has been constituted. So there should not be any surprise if the case is handed over to the CID,'' the Minister said.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police B Dayananda said there was suspicion that this case involved a network of national and international level. ''Since it is apparent that this act was done using high end technological methodologies, we have written to the Director General of Police with a view that a high level probe should be conducted by an expert investigation agency,'' Dayananda told reporters here.
According to him, one stage of investigation has happened and further probe was needed to trace the involvement of some more networks because some hackers were involved, who had hacked it in an expert manner.
''They (hackers) have also hacked the government's e-procurement portal. So, an organised investigation was required,'' the police Commissioner said.
The alleged hacker Srikrishna alias Sriki, who has been projected as the kingpin, was arrested after he fell into the police radar for his lavish lifestyle.
He would allegedly stay in five-star hotels and dine and drink with his team.
Sriki's associates alleged that he would hack into poker websites and also the platform for trading bitcoin. Now, the Congress government is claiming that the case could not be investigated properly.
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Campaign Against Hate Speech calls for action against Chandrashekar Swamiji for hate speech
Bengaluru: Campaign Against Hate Speech, a collective of lawyers, activists, and concerned citizens, has urged Karnataka’s Home Minister, Shri Parameshwara G, and Director General of Police, Dr. Alok Mohan, to take legal action against Chandrashekar Swamiji, the seer of Vishwa Vokkaligara Mahasamsthana Mutt. The demand follows an alleged hate speech made by the seer during a protest organized by the Bharatiya Kisan Union at Freedom Park on November 26, 2024.
The organization claimed that the speech was divisive and aimed at spreading communal hatred and enmity between communities. Chandrashekar Swamiji allegedly made inflammatory remarks, including false claims about the authority of the Waqf Board and a controversial suggestion that Muslims in India should be stripped of their voting rights. The speech, delivered to a large audience, has since been uploaded to YouTube by TV9 Kannada, amassing over 6,900 views.
The organization provided excerpts of the speech, which they say falsely accused the Waqf Board of arbitrarily taking over properties, including farmland, and asserted that minorities in Pakistan do not have voting rights. These remarks, they argued, not only mislead the public but also incite hostility against the Muslim community and misrepresent the functioning of the Waqf Board. The statement suggesting that Muslims should be denied voting rights was described as unconstitutional and harmful to the secular and democratic values of the country.
In their letter, the collective highlighted specific sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (formerly the IPC) that they believe the speech violates. These include provisions against promoting enmity between communities, making assertions prejudicial to national integration, and spreading false or alarming information intended to incite hatred. They also pointed out that comments on the video supported the seer’s views, reflecting the potential for real-world consequences stemming from the speech.
While Chandrashekar Swamiji has since issued a written apology, Campaign Against Hate Speech argued that it is insufficient. The apology has not been widely circulated, while the original speech continues to be shared online, further amplifying its divisive message.
The organization has requested legal action against the seer and restrictions on the offensive video. They have also called for a broader public awareness campaign to educate people about the legal and social consequences of hate speech. Additionally, they suggested that the upcoming winter session of the Karnataka Assembly address the growing issue of hate speech comprehensively.
The letter underscored the importance of preserving Karnataka’s identity as a “garden of peace for all communities,” as envisioned by Rashtrakavi Kuvempu. Citing Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of democracy as a mode of “associated living,” they stressed that such remarks not only threaten a specific community but also undermine the foundational values of the nation.
