A major crypto fraud linked to one of India’s biggest crypto exchanges, WazirX, is now drawing attention at the national level. The Delhi court suggested that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) may need to take over the probe.
The case, which involves a massive $235 million (worth ₹2,000 crore) cyber heist, has raised serious concerns about a possible international syndicate behind the attack.
What’s the Case About?
The case is tied to a massive hack that hit WazirX on July 18, 2024, when nearly $235 million (roughly ₹2,000 crore) worth of cryptocurrency was stolen.
WazirX, operated by Zanmai Labs Pvt. Ltd had quickly filed a complaint with the Delhi Police’s IFSO unit after discovering that their Multi-Signature Wallets, which store customer crypto funds, had been drained.
Last year, Delhi Police arrested a man named SK Masud Alam from West Bengal for his role in a major hacking case. He was accused of using a fake name, “Souvik Mondal,” to attack a WazirX account.
Court Hands Over The Case To CBI
On May 1, Additional Sessions Judge Sumit Dass reviewed the bail application of SK Masud Alam, one of the key accused. Alam, who has been in jail for over eight months, has had previous bail pleas rejected.
The judge expressed concern that the case may involve a wider criminal network, potentially with international links or even state support.
He noted that the technical nature of the hack and the scale of the theft require deeper investigation, making it more suitable for a central agency like the CBI to take over.
More Arrests and No Progress Yet
During questioning, Alam reportedly confessed to connecting with someone named M. Hasan via Telegram, who offered him money in exchange for credentials to access WazirX accounts.
His account had received crypto deposits worth over ₹91 lakh shortly after being created.
19 May Next Hearing
Though the court hasn’t officially handed over the investigation, it has sent its order to the CBI Director for consideration. Meanwhile, the bail application for Alam will be heard again on May 19, when more clarity is expected on whether the central agency will take charge.
If proven true, this case could become one of the most significant crypto-related frauds in India.
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