Former BJP MLA Nalin Kotadiya, former IPS officer Jagdish Patel, and 12 others have been sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with a sensational 2018 bitcoin extortion and builder kidnapping case that rocked Gujarat’s political and law enforcement circles. The verdict, delivered by the City Sessions Court’s ACB Special Court in Ahmedabad on Friday, concluded one of the state’s most notorious cases involving cryptocurrency, corruption, and abuse of power.
The case revolved around the abduction of builder Shailesh Bhatt, who was forcibly taken by a group that allegedly included police officers and influential figures. According to investigations, Bhatt was kidnapped and extorted of 200 bitcoins, valued at around Rs 12 crore at the time, along with a cash ransom demand of Rs 32 crore. The conspiracy exposed a deep nexus between politicians, senior police officials, and intermediaries, making it one of the rare instances where high-ranking officials faced life imprisonment for orchestrating a crime.
Court records revealed that the scheme unfolded after the conspirators learned Bhatt himself had illicitly obtained bitcoins worth nearly Rs 150 crore from a Surat businessman, Dhawal Mawani. Acting on this knowledge, the group planned to exploit Bhatt’s vulnerability by extorting both digital assets and cash through intimidation and abuse of official authority. The crime gained further notoriety when it emerged that certain law enforcement officers facilitated the conspiracy instead of upholding the law.
Among the accused, former BJP MLA Nalin Kotadiya and then-Amreli District Superintendent of Police Jagdish Patel played central roles in executing the plan. The involvement of senior police officials such as Anant Patel highlighted the extent of corruption within the system. Investigations also linked CBI Inspector Sunil Nair to the scandal, with reports alleging he accepted Rs 5 crore in cash to support the operation.
Following Bhatt’s formal complaint, the CID Crime launched a thorough investigation that exposed the depth of the criminal conspiracy. Over the course of the inquiry, 15 individuals were charged, including police officers, political figures, and intermediaries. The trial, closely watched by the public and media, lasted years and examined volumes of evidence, including witness testimonies and financial records.
After careful deliberation, the court convicted 14 of the 15 accused, sentencing them to life imprisonment. Only one defendant, Jatin Patel, was acquitted of all charges due to insufficient evidence. The verdict has been hailed as a strong message against the misuse of power and corruption, underlining that neither political influence nor police authority can shield individuals from accountability in cases of grave criminal misconduct.
This case remains a landmark in Gujarat’s legal and political history, illustrating how the allure of cryptocurrency, coupled with unchecked power, spiraled into a high-profile scandal. The sentencing has not only closed a dark chapter but also reaffirmed public faith in the judicial process by holding influential figures accountable for crimes that once seemed untouchable.
