The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced this week that it has seized cryptocurrencies worth INR 23.94 crores (approximately $2.75 million) and other key evidence following nationwide raids in connection with the Gainbitcoin scam.

The agency conducted searches on Feb. 25 and 26, 2025, at more than 60 locations across India, targeting individuals and entities suspected of laundering proceeds from the fraudulent scheme. Major cities involved in the operation included Delhi, Pune, Nanded, Kolhapur, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Mohali, Jhansi, and Hubli. The CBI explained:

Following the nationwide searches conducted on 25th and 26th February 2025 in connection with the Gainbitcoin cases, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), using in-house capabilities, has seized significant incriminating evidence and virtual digital assets, further unraveling the extent of the cryptocurrency fraud.

Gainbitcoin, a Ponzi scheme launched in 2015 by Amit Bhardwaj (deceased) and Ajay Bhardwaj, promised investors a 10% monthly return on BTC investments for 18 months. The scheme followed a multi-level marketing (MLM) model, encouraging investors to bring in new participants. Initially, payouts were made in bitcoin, but as the scheme collapsed in 2017, withdrawals were switched to an in-house cryptocurrency, MCAP, which had significantly lower value, further deceiving investors. With multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) registered across states such as Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, the Supreme Court of India transferred the case to the CBI for a detailed investigation. The latest raids focused on seizing digital assets and financial records linked to the scam.

The announcement detailed that during the operation, the CBI confiscated multiple hardware crypto wallets containing INR 23.94 crores worth of cryptocurrencies. Investigators also seized 121 documents, 34 laptops and hard disks, 12 mobile phones, and multiple email and instant messaging data dumps. The CBI emphasized:

The seized documents and electronic devices are currently under analysis to uncover further details regarding the misappropriation of funds and potential international transactions linked to the scam.

Authorities continue to expand the investigation, working to dismantle the network behind the scheme. The CBI reiterated its commitment to holding those responsible accountable and ensuring justice for the victims of one of India’s largest cryptocurrency frauds. The investigation is ongoing.

免责声明：本文章仅代表作者个人观点，不代表本平台的立场和观点。本文章仅供信息分享，不构成对任何人的任何投资建议。用户与作者之间的任何争议，与本平台无关。如网页中刊载的文章或图片涉及侵权，请提供相关的权利证明和身份证明发送邮件到support@aicoin.com，本平台相关工作人员将会进行核查。