Karnataka Bitcoin Hacker Sriki, Friend Arrested For Consuming Ganja

The blood samples of both the accused tested positive for ganja consumption.

A man with handcuffs (Image for representation)

Chennai: Hacker Srikrishna Ramesh alias Sriki was arrested by Bengaluru police for consuming ganja after a scuffle in a star hotel in Bengaluru on Saturday afternoon. He was arrested along with his friend Vishnu Bhat since both of them tested positive for consuming ganja. 

According to a report on Times of India, Jeevan Bima Nagar police arrested Sriki and Vishnu Bhat after their blood samples turned positive for ganja consumption. The two members were held under charges of punishment for consumption of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substances under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. 

Following this, the police searched the home and room of Sriki and Bhat. The police recovered 10 cigarettes with ganja and some ganja powder at Bhat’s home in Indira Nagar while they did not recover anything from Sriki's room in the same hotel. 

On Saturday, Bhat came to the private hotel to meet Sriki, who was residing in the hotel for over 50 days. However, Bhat tried to enter the hotel without entering his details. When the hotel staff members tried to stop him, it resulted in an altercation. The hotel management registered a complaint with the Jeevan Bima Nagar police. Following this, they detain both of them and later arrested the duo.

Srikrishna is an accused in multiple drug peddling cases and is under a scanner by Prime Minister's office for a bitcoin scam involving US authorities. He was also involved in several bitcoin fraud cases including hacking of the Karnataka government's portal. Three agencies in India including the Enforcement Directorate, CID, and the Central Crime Branch of Bengaluru police are currently investigating Sriki with regards to various drug peddling cases and cyber frauds.