crypto kidnap plot
Pune
An Indian cryptocurrency trader who amassed a $40 million fortune was kidnapped by a police officer and seven others who demanded he transfer his bitcoin wallet to them, authorities said Wednesday.
Vijay Naik, 38, was abducted in the city of Pune on January 14 and told to hand over his digital fortune, along with 800,000 rupees ($10,700) in cash. He was abruptly let go the next day when the kidnappers realised the police were on their tail, and the perpetrators were detained on Tuesday. Among the accused was Dilip Tukaram Khandare, a police officer who had been trained in cybercrime investigations and had come to learn of Naik’s bitcoin holdings.
“We have taken eight people including a police constable who planned the abduction into custody,” a senior officer confirmed to AFP.
