In a significant move against corruption and cybercrime, an Indian anti-corruption court has delivered a landmark verdict, sentencing 14 individuals, including high-ranking police officials and a former politician, to life imprisonment. This ruling stems from a brazen 2018 case involving the kidnapping and cryptocurrency extortion of a Surat-based businessman, highlighting the growing intersection of traditional criminal enterprises with digital assets.
The Cryptocurrency Extortion Plot
The case centered around entrepreneur Shailesh Bhatt, who had successfully recovered a portion of his lost investment from the BitConnect developer in Bitcoin. Upon learning of Bhatt's recovered digital wealth, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Nalin Kotadiya and senior Amreli police officials allegedly orchestrated a sophisticated plot. On February 11, 2018, Bhatt was kidnapped and illegally detained at a farm near Gandhinagar. Led by Amreli's local crime branch inspector Anant Patel, the group brutally coerced Bhatt into admitting his cryptocurrency holdings. He was forced to transfer a portion of his Bitcoin and $3.6 million in cash, ultimately losing approximately $150,000 through the forced sale of 34 Bitcoin.
Justice Served
Bhatt's subsequent complaint to the Union Home Ministry triggered a robust criminal investigation, leading to the arrest of 15 individuals. Among those convicted were former Amreli District Superintendent of Police Jagdish Patel and ex-MLA Nalin Kotadiya, alongside 11 police officers. Special Judge B.B. Jadav in Ahmedabad found the group guilty of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping for ransom, illegal detention, and assault. The 11 police officers, including former IPS officer Patel, were also convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, underscoring the severe breach of public trust. The court's decision, which included the confiscation of gold jewelry recovered from Amreli SP Patel, sends a strong message that those who abuse their power for financial gain, especially through emerging criminal avenues like crypto extortion, will face the full force of the law.
