'Speculative': CBI Refutes Reports Claiming FBI Team In India To Probe 'Bitcoin Scam'

“Accordingly, the question of according any permission for the probe by Competent Authority in India does not arise,” CBI spokesperson RC Joshi said.

New Delhi: Disputing reports that a team of the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was in India to probe the alleged bitcoin case being probed by the Karnataka Police, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday termed the statements “speculative” and “without any basis”.

The FBI has not sent any team to India to conduct a probe in the matter nor has any request been made by the US probe agency to the CBI for conducting an investigation in this case, the central agency said in a statement, PTI reported.

“Accordingly, the question of according any permission for the probe by Competent Authority in India does not arise,” CBI spokesperson RC Joshi said.

“CBI as the National Central Bureau for INTERPOL in India coordinates closely with international law enforcement agencies including FBI,” he added.

The central agency’s statement comes as the Congress had earlier this week raised this issue to lash out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Earlier on Friday, the Congress asked whether the FBI is in India to investigate an alleged “Bitcoin scam”.

The statement came as the Congress had earlier accused the BJP government in Karnataka of covering up the same last year.

Launching a vitriolic attack on the BJP, Congress MLA from Chittarpur Priyank Kharge tweeted: “I believe the FBI is in Delhi to investigate the billion dollar #BitCoinScam. Like i said before, if the state investigates the matter diligently a lot of BJP’s skeletons will tumble out.”

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala too cornered the BJP on the matter.

“The layers of #BitcoinScam are finally being unearthed! Let India’s HM & CM Bommai answer- 1. Is FBI in India to investigate India’s biggest #Bitcoin Scam Coverup under Karnataka BJP Govt? If so, release details of the investigation & suspects, including political people?” Surjewala tweeted.

“The layers of #BitcoinScam are finally being unearthed! Let India’s HM & CM Bommai answer- 2. How many Bitcoins were stolen & of what value? Who in Karnataka is involved? 3. Were the stolen bitcoins transferred from the wallet of alleged hacker Sri Krishna?” he wrote on the micro-blogging platform.

The Congress leader sought an answer from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on the issue.

“#BitcoinScam Let HM & CM Bommai answer- 4. Whether the “Whale Alerts” reflecting the transfer of the 14,682 stolen Bitfinex bitcoins valued at Rs. 5,240 crores on the two dates- 1st December 2020 & 14th April, 2021, when Sri Krishna was in custody- has any correlation?” Surjewala tweeted.

“Layers of #BitcoinScam Let HM & CM Bommai answer- 5. What is the role and responsibility of the Chief Minister, Shri Basavaraj Bommai (who was the Home Minister in charge at the relevant time) and others in the State Government?” he wrote on the micro-bogging platform.

The Karnataka Chief Minister had earlier last year accused the Congress of playing politics on the issue and asked the opposition to give documents, if any, to the probe agencies.