Image Credit: X account @bb_thorat
CBI Launches Probe into ₹6,600 Crore Bitcoin Scam
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched an inquiry into a massive ₹6,600 crore Bitcoin scam allegedly involving Maharashtra politicians Supriya Sule and Nana Patole.
The investigation gained momentum with the CBI summoning Gaurav Mehta, an employee of Sarathi Associates, shortly after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at his residence in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
Details of the Bitcoin Scam
The scam revolves around allegations against late Amit Bhardwaj and his brother Ajay Bhardwaj, accused of running a Ponzi scheme promising returns of 10% per month in bitcoins. The scheme reportedly defrauded the public of bitcoins worth ₹6,600 crore in 2017.
The CBI has filed cases against the Bhardwaj family members and several multi-level marketing agents accused of collecting funds under false pretenses. The ED, which is investigating money laundering aspects of the case, has named Variable Tech Pvt Ltd and individuals linked to the Bhardwaj family in its FIRs.
Political Controversy
The case has taken a political turn, with retired IPS officer Ravindranath Patil alleging that funds from the scam were used to finance election campaigns for the Nationalist Congress Party’s Supriya Sule and Congress leader Nana Patole. These allegations were echoed during the Maharashtra assembly election campaign, with BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi accusing both leaders of benefiting from illegal Bitcoin transactions.
Rebuttal by Supriya Sule
Supriya Sule dismissed the accusations as baseless, challenging the BJP to a public debate on the matter. “I deny all the allegations leveled against me by Sudhanshu Trivedi. All this is conjecture and innuendo, and I am ready for a debate with any representative of the BJP at a time and date of their choice, in a public forum,” Sule stated in a post on X.
As the investigation unfolds, the CBI and ED continue to scrutinize the financial and political dimensions of the case, which has significant implications ahead of upcoming elections.
