2018 Bitcoin loot and kidnapping case: Ex-MLA Nalin Kotadiya, ex-SP Jagdish Patel among 14 sentenced to life

Hyderabad: A Gujarat sessions court on Friday sentenced 14 people, including former MLA Nalin Kotadiya and former Superintendent of Police Jagdish Patel, to life imprisonment in connection with the sensational 2018 Bitcoin loot and kidnapping case.

The case involved the abduction of Surat-based builder Shailesh Bhatt, who alleged that a group of policemen and political leaders extorted bitcoins worth several crores from him. The scandal had rocked Gujarat’s political and law enforcement circles at the time.

Court holds political and police nexus guilty of conspiracy

The court found the accused guilty of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and extortion. In its order, it said the involvement of senior police officials and politicians highlighted the depth of organised crime in the case.

According to investigators, Bhatt was abducted and forced to transfer bitcoins under threat. The role of Kotadiya and Patel was established during the probe, leading to their conviction. Both had denied the charges, calling the allegations politically motivated, but the court dismissed their defence.

The sentencing brings closure to one of India’s first high-profile cryptocurrency-related criminal cases. Legal experts noted that the judgment underscored the seriousness with which courts treat offences involving emerging financial technologies like Bitcoin.

Authorities said further investigation was ongoing to trace missing bitcoins and money trails linked to international exchanges.