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Bitcoin case: I don't know Shailesh Bhatt and I was not kidnapped, says Piyush Savaliya

Nalin Kotadiya alleged that Shailesh Bhatt abducted Piyush Savaliya and Dhaval Malvani on February 1 and extorted 2300 bitcoins from them

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Former MLA Nalin Kotadiya
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Former MLA Nalin Kotadiya, whose name has figured in the bitcoin case, said on Monday that he was innocent and was being framed. He also claimed that Surat-based builder Shailesh Bhatt abducted Piyush Savaliya and Dhaval Malvani on February 1 and extorted 2,300 bitcoins from them.

In his response, Piyush Savaliya filed an affidavit at the Surat court on Tuesday saying that he has no connection in the bitcoin case and the allegations made by Kotadiya are false. As per the affidavit, he doesn't know Shailesh Bhatt and nor were he and Dhaval kidnapped by anyone or bitcoin extorted. He even stated that he has no bitcoins with him.

Apart from that, he even alleged that the Amreli Police and other officers are forcing him and his family to lodge a case against Shailesh Bhatt regarding the kidnapping. The affidavit was sent to the CID Crime office by Savaliya on Tuesday through a speed post.

According to the police, 176 bitcoins were extorted from Bhatt's bitcoin wallet. Kirit Paladiya had made a deal with Amreli SP Jagdish Patel, Inspector of LCB Anant Patel and other policemen, lawyer Ketan Patel, Ketan's brother Jatin Patel, and Nalin Kotadiya. The conspirators were promised a certain percentage of the bitcoins money worth around Rs 9.45 crore - 15 per cent for Nalin Kotadiya, the lawyer and his brother and 15 per cent for the police officers. As per the allegations, Kotadiya got Rs 66 lakh, while the lawyer and his brother got Rs 66 lakh.

CID officers recovered Rs 25lakh from Rajkot-based Nanku Lavaria, a friend of Kotadiya, on Monday. It was also revealed during the interrogation that Lavaria got the money through Naman Kotadiya (nephew of Nalin Kotadiya) and claimed to be just the custodian of the cash with no knowledge of the source of the money. However, another Rs 10 lakh was given to Navneet (a relative of Nalin Kotadiya).

Currently, Naman and Navneet are absconding and search for them is on. The CID officers suspect that Nalin Kotadiya has left the state. They have also roped in the Crime branch to help them track Nalin.

Shailesh Bhatt, a Surat-based builder was allegedly kidnapped on February 11 and was extorted of 176 bitcoins from his cryptocurrency wallet by the Amreli Police. Six people have been arrested by the CID till now, including Jagdish Patel (Amreli SP), Anant Patel(Inspector of LCB), Ketan Patel (lawyer), Kirit Paladiya (Shailesh Bhatt's partner) and two constables. It was revealed during the investigation that the mastermind behind the entire plan was Kirit Paladiya.

Jatin Patel (brother of Ketan Patel), Naman Kotadiya (nephew of Nalin Kotadiya), Navneet (a relative of Kotadiya), Dharmendra Pawar (Amreli Police Head Constable) and six other Amreli police officers are wanted in the case and search for them is going on.

MOST WANTED

Jatin Patel (brother of Ketan Patel), Naman Kotadiya (nephew of Nalin Kotadiya), Navneet (a relative of Kotadiya), Dharmendra Pawar (Amreli Police Head Constable) and six other Amreli police officers are wanted in the case and search for them is going on. CID has also been roped in to help police nab these criminals

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