Indian Law Enforcement Arrest Key Player in GainBitcoin Scam Year After Mastermind’s Death
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has arrested Simpy Bhardwaj aka Simpy Gaur, wife of Ajay Bhardwaj in the ongoing money laundering investigation in the country’s largest crypto ponzi scam GainBitcoin.
The main accused Ajay Bhardwaj and Mahender Bhardwaj managed to escape from their residence before police could reach and are currently absconding. A source close to the matter revealed that it was Simpy that helped her husband and father in law to abscond and threw away the mobile phone when ED caught her at residence.
ED has conducted search operation at the resident premises of Smt. Simpy Bhardwaj aka Simpy Gaur and Ajay Bhardwaj on 17.12.2023 in connection with an ongoing investigation in the case of M/s Variable Pte Ltd and ors colloquially called Gain Bitcoin Ponzi scheme under the…
— ED (@dir_ed) December 19, 2023
The mastermind of the massive fraud Amit Bhardwaj passed away in police custody in 2022, leaving investigations open-ended and victims hopeless. However, the recent arrest of the deceased mastermind’s brother’s wife could give the investigation a new life.
Sources close to the matter revealed that Simpy was handling crypto wallets that held illicitly gained bitcoins from the victim and helped her husband Ajay Bhardwaj and father in law – key suspects in the multi-billion dollars scam – to abscond. Ajay Bhardwaj is currently out on bail.
Earlier, ED had attached properties worth 70 crore INR ($8.4 million) and has sought assistance from foreign countries in the ongoing investigation into the country’s biggest crypto ponzi fraud.
As per the official release, ED initiated investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by Maharashtra Police and Delhi Police against Variable Tech Pte Ltd, Late Amit Bhardwaj
