Bitcoin case: Cops deny any wrongdoing

Bengaluru: Bengaluru police has denied Congress party’ allegations of irregularities in the alleged multicrore bitcoin scam and said the investigation was carried out ‘in a fair and professional manner.’

The statement released by Police Commissioner Kamal Pant’s office said that misleading versions are being floated based on incomplete or distorted facts. All versions are vehemently denied.

The police clarified that the news reports regarding alleged disappearance of 0.08 Bitcoins related crime No.45/2020 of Cyber PS is a false claim. The three crypto-currencies along with 0.08 Bitcoins amounting to Rs 2,50,438 (as per the then rates) were seized from the account of Robin Khandelwala and transferred to the Police wallet in presence of Panchas. The same was duly intimated to the court.

Moreover, the Court’s permission was obtained to transfer said BTC to the Police wallet. Upon reaching the wallet shown by Sriki, it had 186.811 Bitcoins, cops said, adding that Cyber experts have said that the account claimed by the accused was a live wallet and he didn’t have a private key for this, police said.

The statement further mentioned UNICOIN, as one of few Bitcoin exchanges operating in India and has filed statutory returns under law.

“Though UNICOIN account was hacked for a small amount, there was nothing adverse against the company making them ineligible to assist in the investigation. It has to be noted that Company is a victim in the case, not th e accused.

Hence, this is not at all a case of conflict of interest,” the police said in the statement.