Bitcoin scam: Congress MLA’s son in Karnataka’s SIT record sheet
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Bitcoin scam in Karnataka has named Mohammed Haris Nalapada, son of Congress MLA NA Haris, as a co-accused in its chargesheet, making him the first politically connected individual to be indicted in the case.
The scam took place during BJP’s tenure and the Congress alleged that BJP leaders were involved ahead of the 2023 parliamentary polls.
Responding to Mr. Nalapada’s allegations, Home Minister Priyank Kharge said that as far as he knew, there were more names, including those from the BJP, and those names would also surface. “We made it transparent. What’s wrong is wrong and there’s no defending it,” he said.
Responding to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) notice to Mr Nalapada, Mr Kharge said, “Who controls the central agency? Is the agency selective in its activities?”
“Extended Principal Beneficiary”
The chargesheet, filed on May 20 in a Bengaluru court, said Nalapad was one of the key beneficiaries of 60.6 bitcoins allegedly stolen by hacker Srikrishna alias Sriki from Tumakuru-based crypto exchange Unocoin in 2017.
The SIT charge alleged that Nalapad played a role in converting the stolen cryptocurrency into cash, which was allegedly channeled through hawala channels. The prosecution names Nalapada, Sriki and his accountant Robin Khandelwal as accused.
The ED, which was investigating the case separately, had earlier alleged that Mohammed Haris Nalapad, his brother Omar Farook Nalapad and Aqeeb Khan, grandson of former Union minister K Rahman Khan, benefited from the proceeds of crime.
The stolen bitcoins were valued at around ₹1.14 crore in 2017 and are now estimated to be worth over ₹35 crore.
The Bitcoin scam came to light after Sriki’s arrest in November 2020 in a case of buying drugs on the dark web. Subsequent investigations linked him to numerous cyber crimes, including the alleged hacking of the Karnataka government’s e-procurement portal and the theft of ₹11.5 million in 2019.
The Congress government set up an SIT in 2023 to re-investigate the case. The Nalapad brothers were questioned by the SIT in 2024 and again in February 2025. On 20 April this year, the ED conducted searches at places associated with Sriki, the Nalapad brothers and Aqeeb Khan.
According to the ED, the Nalapad brothers were close associates of Sriki and were among the main beneficiaries of the alleged proceeds of crime. The agency is conducting investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Political conspiracy
Mohammed Haris Nalapad called the charges and allegations against him a political conspiracy to reduce his father’s chances of becoming a minister. “We will get a ministerial berth and give a suitable response,” he told reporters on June 10.
Published – 10 Jun 2026 21:36 IST