In a perplexing turn of events, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) did not receive the case file from the Central Crime Branch (CCB) due to confusion regarding an interim order passed by the high court in the Bitcoin hacking case. The daily orders displayed on the high court website during two hearings in September 2022 indicated that the interim order was extended until the next date of hearing. However, the police officers investigating the case were unaware of the case's status, leading to uncertainty and unexpected developments.
One of the accused, Sunish Hegde, filed a Criminal Petition in the high court in September 2021, which added to the complexity of the situation. Despite the confusion surrounding the interim order, senior officials refrained from commenting until they could verify the case status. Sources revealed that discussions between senior officers and the Special Public Prosecutor took place only recently, shedding some light on the case's status.
Meanwhile, the state government established the SIT to investigate the Bitcoin hacking case, aiming to address concerns of professional jealousy between the CID and the CCB. However, CCB officials expressed dissatisfaction with the inclusion of a CID officer in the SIT. This discontent arose from controversies surrounding the collection of mirror images of evidence from the CCB by the CID officer and his team, leading to strained relations between the two departments.
In response to the confusion, the Special Public Prosecutor stated that no interim order had been granted by the court regarding the case's gravity. However, he acknowledged the mention of the interim order on the order sheet and expressed plans to seek clarification from the court.
The developments in the high court case raised doubts about the Congress government's newly formed SIT's ability to conduct investigations into the hacking-related crimes and alleged corruption that transpired during the BJP's tenure. The accused, including hacker Srikrishna alias Sriki, face charges of hacking cryptocurrency exchanges, online poker sites, and the Karnataka government's e-procurement cell.
While the case awaits further hearing on July 19, it is essential to note that Home Minister G Parameshwara previously highlighted the need for additional investigations into the Bitcoin scam that reportedly occurred during the BJP's rule. The CCB's initial probe uncovered Sriki's possession of a large quantity of Bitcoins, leading to further investigations into the hacker gang's involvement in various hacking incidents.
Amidst allegations of corruption and diversion of cryptocurrency, the CCB and CID filed separate charge sheets against the accused in relation to the hacking cases. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also investigated the money laundering aspect and filed a charge sheet regarding the theft from the e-procurement cell.
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