NSE case: forensic analysis order for seized devices

Agencies investigate email exchange between National Stock Exchange General Manager and former General Manager Chitra Ramkrishna He ordered a person referred to as a “yogi” to conduct an electronic forensic analysis of cell phones and other electronic gadgets that had been confiscated recently. raids.

The Income Tax Department and the Central Bureau of Investigation are conducting parallel investigations into the recent revelations Securities and Exchange Commission From India He ordered that Ramkrishna was guided by an anonymous “yogi” for more than 20 years in making decisions at work. While the IRS investigates suspicions of tax evasion, the CBI previously investigates Executive Director in 2018 NSE A roommate case for alleged corruption and abuse of power.

Informed people said the digital forensic analysis was necessary because Ramkrishna and Anand Subramanian, the group’s chief operating officer and chief executive advisor, allegedly told investigators they could not remember ID cards or names and email passwords. On Thursday and Friday, the IT department raided the Ramkrishna and Subramanian residences in Mumbai and Chennai respectively. The CBI also conducted searches at Ramkrishna’s home in Mumbai on Friday and recorded his statement.

“Both maintain that because the emails are from 2015, they don’t remember the email identifiers or passwords… an electronic forensic investigation of electronic devices such as their cell phones will help with accurate identification, and so the same has been requested,” the development said.

According to those in the know, the NSE told investigative agencies that the desktop laptops delivered to Ramkrishna and Subramanian had been politically destroyed. “A record of the destruction of these tools is also kept with the NSE which has been shared with investigators. Now that the laptops are gone, the IP address from the email has become one of the reliable ways to verify identity. Since the information received as soon as the It cannot be challenged by those who are being questioned, they can be confronted with the evidence received through forensic analysis.”

People said the CBI investigating the NSE co-location issue will soon summon Ravi Narain, who was the former general manager and chief executive and then chairman of the NSE board of directors.

Investigation to know the ultimate beneficiary

“Although the verification of the identity of the layperson (yogi) with whom Ramkrishna was in contact is the focus of the new investigation, the case relates to the misuse of the hosting facility provided by the exchange, thus the questioning of Naren is of importance,” another official said. fraud and therefore he will be questioned in due course.”

“The essence of the investigation is to find out who the ultimate beneficiary was, so all relevant to the investigation period will be interviewed in a timely manner.”

On Friday, at the request of the CBI, a monitoring circular banning overseas travel was issued against Naren, Ramkrishna and Subramanian.

In 2018, CBI booked OPG Security promoter Sanjay Gupta, brother-in-law Aman Kokrady and fellow researcher Ajay Shah, along with NSE and Sebi officials unidentified in the co-presence case.