The Congress Party on July 5 has demanded a Supreme Court-monitored judicial probe into the alleged multi-crore (more than Rs. 5,000 crore) “bitcoin scam” that has surfaced in Gujarat with suspected involvement of BJP leaders for converting black money through Bitcoin transactions.
While addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said, “A new mega bitcoin scam has been unraveled in Gujarat. The finger of suspicion of this massive scam of illegal cryptocurrency directly points to several top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and a mastermind — an absconding BJP leader and former MLA Nalin Kotadiya.”
Congress alleged that Bitcoin (digital currency) is used for illegal hawala transactions, kidnappings post-demonetisation and the scam came to view following the abduction of Surat-based builder Sailesh Bhatt.
While terming Congress allegations ‘laughable’ BJP spokesperson Anil Baluni said: “nothing can be more unfortunate as it is the state police which has cracked the case and acted against several persons.”
“The dirty tricks department of the Congress is at work to spread confusion and lies. It is blaming the police who have uncovered the case. I wonder if the Congress is trying to help somebody in this case as part of a conspiracy,” Baluni said.
The scam began with a complaint made to Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, by a Surat-based builder Sailesh Bhatt against Gujarat’s Amreli District police of alleged extortion of “200 bitcoins (Rs. 10 crore) and demanding Rs. 32 crore in cash. Later probe agencies found Amreli District police involvement in extortion and action was taken against several officials.
