Representative image.
Credit: Reuters Photo
Bengaluru: A businessman was allegedly robbed of Rs 2 crore while trying to convert the cash into cryptocurrency in northern Bengaluru on June 25.
Shriharsha V, 33, from Kengeri, told the police that he had arranged the money to import machinery from Germany for his new business. He wanted to convert the cash into USDT, a cryptocurrency stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, to make the payment when a group robbed him at knifepoint.
According to Shriharsha, the incident occurred at a shop called AK Enterprises near the MS Palya signal, Vidyaranyapura, at 4.30 pm.
He said two people — Benjamin Harsha and Rakshith — had promised to convert his cash into USDT. They were counting the money at the shop when five to six men barged in. The men carried knives and ordered them to fill the cash into a bag and hand it over. The men also hit Shriharsha with a knife handle before fleeing with the cash, he added.
Shriharsha told the police that Harsha and Rakshith also ran away afterwards and suspected that they were involved in the robbery.
Vidyaranyapura police have registered an FIR for dacoity under BNS Section 310(2).
A police officer investigating the case said Harsha and Rakshith would be questioned about their possible involvement. Police also do not rule out the possibility that Shriharsha might have staged the entire incident.
According to the FIR, Shriharsha runs a firm called Aerivon Oxygen Pvt Ltd and was planning to start a cold-pressed oil business. He had taken loans from friends to import necessary machinery from Germany. The payment was to be made through USDT, so he got in touch with Harsha through mutual friends.