New Delhi, March 28
The Supreme Court Monday asked a crypto-currency scam accused to disclose the username and password of his Bitcoin wallet to the Enforcement Directorate and cooperate with the investigation in the money laundering case against him.
A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant said that subject to Ajay Bhardwaj, accused of running “multi-level marketing scheme” of Bitcoin making full disclosure, his interim protection granted by the court will continue.
The apex court asked the ED to file an updated status report in the case.
The bench noted in its order, “An application for cancellation of bail has been filed by the respondents. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati appearing for ED has filed a status report. ED has submitted that the brother of the petitioner has died and Petitioner (Bhardwaj) is in possession of the username and password of crypto wallets which must be disclosed to the investigating officer”.
It also noted the submission of senior advocate P C Sen, appearing for Bhardwaj, that all the records, e-mails and evidence is in custody of Pune Police and he has disclosed all the relevant details.
“The petitioner will file a reply on the application for cancellation of bail within two weeks. In the meantime, the petitioner shall cooperate fully with the investigation. Since senior counsel for petitioner states that disclosure has been of the username and password of the wallet, there would be no difficulty for the petitioner to make full disclosure conditional on which the ad interim protection to continue. ED shall file an updated status report,” the bench said.
At the outset, Sen said that his client has been asked to join the investigation and he has joined it as and where he was called and has been interrogated for 65 hours.
Bhati said that investment in Bitcoin is not through normal banking channels and Bharwdwaj should be asked to…
