最新报道：The Himachal Pradesh High Court has rejected the bail application of Abhishek Sharma, a suspect in a $228 million cryptocurrency scam in India. The scam claimed over 80,000 victims across Himachal Pradesh and neighboring states. In dismissing the bail application on Friday, Justice Sushil Kukreja emphasized the seriousness of economic crime and its impact on society. The court stated that investigations revealed Sharma to be a senior member of the ring and a close associate of the main accused, Subhash Sharma, who had absconded and fled India, leaving his accomplices to face prosecution. Justice Kukreja acknowledged that Article 21 of the Indian Constitution guarantees speedy trial and prohibits the indefinite detention of under-trial prisoners. The court ruled that while Sharma had been detained since October 28, 2023, his detention alone was insufficient grounds for granting bail to someone "prima facie found to be involved in a major economic crime." "Economic crimes are considered serious crimes because they affect the national economy, and therefore such crimes should be taken seriously," the court stated. The court emphasized that bail decisions for economic crimes must take into account the "greater interest of the public and the nation." The scam began in 2018 but came to light when investor Arun Singh Guleria filed an FIR at the Palampur police station on September 24, 2023. Victims received virtual currency in exchange for their investments in Subhash Sharma's platform. The accused, using websites such as Voscrow and Hypenext, promised investors that their digital currency investments would double their money. The investigation revealed that over 1,000 state police officers were deceived. The investigation uncovered a pyramid scheme in which the accused organized investor gatherings in Mandi, Kullu, Baddi, Chandigarh, Una, Hamirpur, and Palampur. Investigators allege that the accused created shell companies and invested the proceeds of the scam in real estate in Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana. They also used the stolen funds to purchase luxury goods and high-end vehicles. The scam involved manipulating cryptocurrency prices while recruiting new investors through existing victims.