Shopping cart
Your cart empty!
Ex-BJP MLA, Former IPS Officer Among 14 Sentenced to Life in Gujarat Bitcoin Extortion Case
A special ACB court in Ahmedabad on Friday sentenced 14 individuals, including former BJP MLA Nalin Kotadiya and ex-IPS officer Jagdish Patel, to life imprisonment in connection with a 2018 bitcoin extortion and builder kidnapping case.
The high-profile case involved the abduction of builder Shailesh Bhatt and the extortion of 200 bitcoins, valued at approximately ₹12 crore at the time. The conspirators, which included Gujarat police officials, also demanded a ransom of ₹32 crore.
According to investigators, the accused acted after learning that Bhatt and his associates had allegedly stolen bitcoins worth ₹150 crore from Surat-based businessman Dhawal Mawani. This led to a plot to kidnap Bhatt and extort cryptocurrency.
The plan reportedly had the involvement of CBI Inspector Sunil Nair, who allegedly accepted ₹5 crore in cash to facilitate the scheme. With police support, the group managed to extort 200 bitcoins from Bhatt.
Following Bhatt’s complaint, CID Crime launched a probe, arresting 15 individuals, including then Amreli District Police Superintendent Jagdish Patel and several other officers.
After evaluating evidence and testimonies, the court convicted 14 of the 15 accused, acquitting Jatin Patel of all charges.
56
Published: Aug 29, 2025
All India Story
All India Story is your trusted source for comprehensive and up-to-the-minute news coverage across India. Bringing you the latest on politics, business, technology, entertainment, sports, and more, we are dedicated to keeping you informed with accurate, engaging, and insightful stories from every corner of the nation.
