A cop from Pune accused of abducting a local cryptocurrency trader and demanding ransom was arrested, said police officials on Wednesday. Reportedly the cop kidnapped the Pune man with the help of seven accomplices.
Dilip Tukaram Khandare had purportedly abducted a 38-year-old man identified as Vinay Naik on January 14th after he learnt the victim was a seasoned trader in crypto and held digital currencies worth Rs 300 crore. Primary probe reveals the cop had demanded all of his holdings along with Rs 8,00,000 in cash. On learning the kin of the Naik had lodged a police complaint, the accused cop abruptly let go of Naik fearing to be caught. So far eight accused have been taken into custody while the investigation into the act is still on.
The Centre in its Union Budget for 2022-23 announced a 30 per cent tax on profits from virtual currencies and the introduction of a “digital rupee” backed by the Reserve Bank of India.