ED Raids Sons of Karnataka MLA in Crypto Money Laundering Probe

The Enforcement Directorate conducted raids at more than a dozen locations in Bengaluru on Monday, April 20, targeting the residences of two sons of Karnataka Congress MLA N A Haris and premises linked to an alleged cryptocurrency hacker, as part of a money laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Officials said the searches focused on Mohammed Haris Nalapad and Omar Farook Nalapad, sons of the four-term MLA who has represented the Shantinagar Assembly constituency since 2008. The operations also covered sites connected to Srikrishna Ramesh, known as Sriki, a Bengaluru-based individual previously arrested by Karnataka Police in relation to cybercrimes. One location involved Aqeeb Khan, grandson of former Union minister K Rahman Khan. The ED's Bengaluru unit led the action, which began early in the day and aimed to seize digital records, financial documents, and other evidence.

The case originates from multiple First Information Reports and chargesheets filed by Karnataka Police in 2017 and subsequent years, alleging hacking of national and international websites, theft of bitcoins and other virtual digital assets, extortion, and violations of the...