Court Questions IPS Officer’s Alleged Links with Dismissed Constable, Cites Suspicious Crypto Transactions
In a major development, the Karnataka Lokayukta Special Court has denied anticipatory bail to senior IPS officer Srinath Joshi Mahadev, amid allegations of his involvement in a cryptocurrency-based bribery scheme in collusion with a dismissed head constable.
Presiding Judge K.M. Radhakrishna rejected Joshi’s plea, stating that the charges are serious and involve matters of public interest. The court emphasized the need for custodial interrogation in light of Joshi’s frequent interactions with Head Constable Ningappa, who was removed from service on misconduct charges.
Court Raises Red Flags Over Crypto Involvement
During the hearing, the judge posed critical questions regarding the IPS officer’s relationship with Ningappa:
“Why was a senior IPS officer repeatedly meeting a dismissed constable? What was Ningappa doing in his office? If Joshi is innocent, why was he sharing cryptocurrency wallet screenshots with him?”
The court further stated that call records and CCTV footage presented by the prosecution warrant a deeper investigation, which can only be effectively conducted through custodial interrogation by the Lokayukta police.
Allegations: Extortion and Cryptocurrency Investments
According to the prosecution, during his tenure as Superintendent of Police (SP) in the Lokayukta, Joshi allegedly collaborated with Ningappa to extort money from officials across various government departments. The scheme reportedly involved Ningappa making intimidating calls and threatening raids unless bribes were paid.
Prosecutors claim that these bribes were then converted into cryptocurrency investments, including Bitcoins, with WhatsApp chats and wallet screenshots indicating Joshi’s active participation.
Defense: Misinterpretation of Past Association
Joshi’s legal counsel argued that his connection with Ningappa stemmed from a past professional association when the latter served under him in Chitradurga. They maintained that Joshi’s name is not mentioned in the FIR or the original complaint, and that the case relies solely on an unsubstantiated statement by Ningappa.
The defense also highlighted that Joshi has since been relieved from the Lokayukta and returned to his parent department, minimizing any threat of evidence tampering or witness influence. His lawyers contended that an arrest at this stage could unfairly jeopardize his upcoming promotion, expected in August.
Lokayukta Court Defers to High Court but Denies Bail
Although the Karnataka High Court has issued an interim stay on proceedings until June 30, the Lokayukta court concluded that the seriousness of the allegations and the need for thorough interrogation justified the denial of anticipatory bail.
This case has drawn widespread public and media attention, not only due to the seniority of the accused officer but also because of the alleged misuse of cryptocurrency in high-level corruption, marking a new dimension in financial crime involving public officials.
