Breaking news: An Indian court has handed a former BJP legislator a life sentence for his role in a jaw-dropping bitcoin extortion case. Who knew politics could get so… cryptic?
In a stunning plot worthy of a crime novel, Nalin Kotadiya, a former member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with thirteen other individuals, was convicted for the 2018 kidnapping of a Surat businessman and extorting a hefty 200 bitcoins from him. Yes, you read that right-bitcoins. Not cash. Welcome to the future of crime!
Life Sentences for a 2018 Bitcoin Heist
Today, a local court in Ahmedabad dropped the hammer on Kotadiya and his criminal crew, sealing their fates for their role in this high-stakes heist. The whole case goes back to 2018, but we’re still talking about it in 2025. That’s how long it took to untangle this mess.
Fourteen people, including Kotadiya, ex-Indian Police Service officer Jagdish Patel, and twelve other colorful characters, were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. One poor soul was acquitted, probably because they were too busy keeping their hands clean, or at least not holding onto any bitcoins.
Former BJP MLA Nalin Kotadiya, ex-IPS officer Jagdish Patel, and 12 others have been sentenced to life imprisonment in a 2018 bitcoin extortion and builder kidnapping case that involved police officers and high-profile conspirators.
The City Sessions Court’s ACB Special Court…
– IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) August 29, 2025
So here’s the plot twist: it’s not just about the kidnapping. It’s about exposing a whole web of corruption involving police officers, politicians, and even cryptocurrency. Take a moment to think about that cocktail of crime, corruption, and a dash of modern technology!
The Crime Unfolds Like a Bad Action Movie
It all started when Shailesh Bhatt, a businessman with a suspiciously interesting side hustle as a cryptocurrency trader, was lured to a meeting in Gandhinagar. Spoiler alert: it was a trap. The so-called Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) agents who invited him? They weren’t agents at all-just a bunch of crooks in disguise.
Bhatt was kidnapped from a gas station and whisked away to a farmhouse by a team of rogue police officers using government cars. Because, why not make it all a little more official, right?
And here’s the kicker: the bad guys made off with 200 bitcoins, which were worth a whopping ₹12 crore at the time. But, wait! They weren’t just looking for bitcoins-they demanded a ransom of ₹32 crore. Because, you know, extortion is way cooler when you throw in a big number.
As the investigation unraveled, it came to light that Bhatt himself was no saint. Apparently, he’d stolen bitcoins worth ₹150 crore from a fellow Surat resident named Dhawal Mawani. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. So, in true poetic justice, the conspirators-including Kotadiya-decided to rob him right back.
Who’s Who in This Corrupt Saga?
The investigation kicked off when Bhatt filed a formal complaint with the Indian Criminal Investigation Department (CID). (Lesson learned: never trust someone with both bitcoins and a sketchy history.)
Ten police officers were arrested, including Anant Patel, and even a lawyer named Ketan Patel got pulled into this mess. Then, like a slow-motion trainwreck, the names of Kotadiya and Jagdish Patel came to light. Kotadiya, of course, went into hiding like any self-respecting criminal would, but not before a non-bailable warrant was issued for his arrest. Spoiler alert: he was eventually caught.
The plot thickened with the involvement of a real CBI Inspector, Sunil Nair. He allegedly demanded a bribe from Bhatt and even threatened to launch an investigation against him. Sounds like the kind of professional ethics we all expect from law enforcement, right?
So, in the end, this courtroom drama wasn’t just about bitcoin and ransom. It was about a massive corruption scandal that brought down police officers, politicians, and even a few cryptocurrency experts. Life sentences handed out all around. Who says crime doesn’t pay? Oh, right. It definitely doesn’t.
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2025-08-30 00:22