Gujarat Bitcoin: Justice has finally caught up with one of Gujarat’s darkest scandals. After years of twists, courtroom drama, and shocking revelations, the Ahmedabad City Sessions Court has sentenced 14 people including a former BJP MLA and senior police officials to life imprisonment in the sensational 2018 Bitcoin extortion case. This verdict is not just about punishment; it is about restoring faith in justice when power and greed collide.
A Scandal That Rocked Gujarat
It all began with the harrowing story of Surat builder and cryptocurrency trader Shailesh Bhatt. In February 2018, Bhatt was allegedly lured under the pretext of a CBI inquiry, only to be kidnapped from a petrol pump and brutally assaulted. What followed was a chilling series of extortions 176 Bitcoins worth nearly ₹9 crore, followed by demands running into crores more, routed through illegal channels and angadia networks.
The shocking part? Those accused of protecting law and order were at the very heart of this crime. Senior police officers, middlemen, and even a politician allegedly orchestrated the entire operation. It was not a story of criminals versus the system it was a story of criminals inside the system.
The Courtroom Battle
The investigation was long and complex. The state presented 172 witnesses, while the defence could only bring forward one. Even though 92 witnesses turned hostile, the court held firm, relying on strong evidence and undeniable patterns of corruption.
After nearly three months of intense final arguments, the verdict came crashing down: all 14 accused were found guilty of kidnapping and extortion. Among them were former BJP MLA Nalin Kotadiya, then Amreli SP Jagdish Patel, and LCB PI Anant Patel. The punishment life imprisonment was a clear message that no seat of power is above the law.
The Dark Web of Power and Greed
The scandal revealed how deeply crime, politics, and cryptocurrency had intertwined in Gujarat. Kotadiya was accused of playing the “fixer,” police officers used government vehicles for abduction, and even a CBI officer was caught demanding bribes. The case also exposed Bhatt’s own controversial past, as he had previously been accused of extortion in another crypto-related dispute.
Yet, despite the murky waters, his complaint pulled the curtain on a much bigger and more dangerous nexus that might have otherwise remained hidden.
A Verdict That Sends a Message
This historic judgment is more than just closure for one case. It sends a chilling warning across the country: corruption, even when dressed in uniform or political power, will not escape justice. For ordinary citizens who often feel powerless against the machinery of influence, this verdict is a rare moment of reassurance that truth can still prevail.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information and news reports. It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal or financial advice.
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