Not aware of ED raids, says CM Siddaramaiah in Mysuru

Bengaluru: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at multiple locations in Bengaluru, including the residences of Mohammed Haris Nalpad and Omar Farook Nalpad, sons of BDA Chairman and MLA N.A. Haris, here this morning.

The searches were carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). It is alleged that Mohammed Nalpad and Farook Nalpad are beneficiaries of proceeds linked to alleged crypto-related crimes.

ED officials also searched N.A. Haris’ residence in Ashoknagar and premises associated with the prime accused, Srikrishna Ramesh alias Sriki.

Sriki, described as an international hacker, is accused of stealing cryptocurrency worth crores through multiple hacking operations.

Reacting to the ED raids on Congress MLA Haris and his kin, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters at the Mysore Airport at Mandakalli this morning that he was not aware of the raids. “I do not know about the raids,” he said, moving on to answer the next question.

Sources said, the ED probe is based on several FIRs and charge-sheets filed by the Karnataka Police, involving cases of hacking of national and international websites, bitcoin theft, extortion and violations under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Police had earlier filed a charge-sheet against Sriki in 2021, accusing him of hacking an online gaming website and a Government portal under provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the IT Act.

Searches were on when we went to the Press and further details are awaited.