Surat: The CID crime on Wednesday approached a local court seeking permission to deposit cash and gold seized from the bitcoin extortion case accused in a bank. The court will issue the order on CID’s application on a later date.
CID crime has seized about Rs 6 crore in cash from the accused, which it wants to deposit in a bank account of the Special Investigation Team of CID crime. They also sought permission to keep the gold worth over Rs 2 crore in a bank locker. The cash and gold was seized during investigation in the case.
Of the total money, CID had recovered Rs 25 lakh in cash from a Mumbai-based Manan Shah. During investigation, CID found that Shah was paid five bitcoins worth Rs 25 lakh by prime accused Shailesh Bhatt. On questioning, Shah informed the police that he was a computer hacker and was contacted by Bhatt to help him transfer bitcoin from a mobile wallet, sources in CID said.
Shah tried to break into the bitcoin wallet, but failed though he was paid five bitcoins for his efforts by Bhatt. Shah sold the bitcoins for Rs 25 lakh cash which was recovered by the CID. Shah is yet not made an accused in the case, but his statement has been recorded, the cops said.
FILE PHOTO: Bitcoin (virtual currency) coins placed on Dollar banknotes, next to computer keyboard, are seen i... Read More