Bengaluru: Bitcoin scam case: Suspended DySP Sridhar Pujar arrested

Team Udayavani, Oct 8, 2024, 11:52 AM IST

Bengaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the multi-crore Bitcoin scam arrested the suspended Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Sridhar Pujar on Monday.

DySP Sridhar Pujar had earlier been part of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) and was involved in investigating the Bitcoin case. Allegations surfaced that he tampered with evidence during the investigation. With the SIT intensifying its probe into the Bitcoin case, Pujar was summoned for questioning at the CID office on Monday.

During the interrogation, Pujar reportedly gave conflicting statements. Following this, SIT officials arrested him for further questioning. He was later produced before the 1st ACMM court, where SIT requested his custody for five days. The court granted custody for three days.

The SIT is currently conducting further investigations at the CID office to gather more information from Pujar.

An FIR had been registered against Pujar at the Cottonpet Police Station. Previously, Pujar had interrogated the main accused in the Bitcoin scam, Srikrishna alias Sriki. When SIT officials questioned Sriki, discrepancies in the earlier investigation conducted by CCB officials came to light.

Previous Incident: Attempt to Flee

Earlier, when a case was registered against him, Pujar had gone into hiding. On February 27, investigators received information about Pujar’s location near Central College and attempted to arrest him. Pujar, who was in a car with a lawyer near the Metro station, tried to flee upon seeing the investigators. While attempting to escape, he reportedly drove his car into SIT officials, injuring one of them. A case related to this incident was filed at the Vidhana Soudha Police Station.