Mastermind of $300 Mn Bitcoin Scam Amit Bhardwaj gets bail from Supreme Court

Exactly after a year of arrest from Bangkok, the mastermind of $300 million bitcoin scam Amit Bhardwaj has been granted bail by the Supreme Court.

According to media reports, Bhardwaj has got bail on medical ground citing his deteriorating health condition. He was reportedly admitted in Apollo Hospital saying that he has non-functioning kidneys resulting in him seeking regular dialysis treatment.

Bhardwaj had filed for bail plea in SC for his involvement with Vihaan Group. In a bid to avoid confusion, the Court asked to separate the Vihaan Group case with the other pending GainBitcoin cases.

Earlier, the Court also ordered his medical report to be submitted on April 3.

While Bhardwaj has been ordered to pay Rs 10 crore as a penalty in the next six months and his brother Vivek Bhardwaj (also an accused) has also been directed to pay Rs 1 crore, reports Crypto News.

Anonymous sources quoted in the report also revealed that every Monday Bhardwaj has to go to Shalimar Baug police station in New Delhi and sign his presence. He has to remain in Delhi until the next notice.

Bhardwaj, who has been framed under Sections 420, 406 and 120-B of the IPC and Section 66 of the IT Act, had started Variabletech in 2015 through his now seized firm Gainbitcoin.com.

Bhardwaj and his marketing agents including Hemant Bhope and Pankaj Adlakha lured many customers to invest in the company for mind-boggling return and eventually they had managed to collect about 80,000 bitcoins.

In May 2018, notable entrepreneur and angel investors, Nikunj Jain and Sahil Baghla were arrested on the grounds of having key connections with Bhardwaj and his company.

In September, Directorate of Enforcement had attached immovable properties and bank balances worth Rs 42.88 crores owned by Amit Bhardwaj and his accomplices.

The Apex Court is expected to hear the matter at this month end.