4 min readBengaluruUpdated: Jun 28, 2026 11:26 AM IST An Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into the alleged laundering of money stolen online from cryptocurrency exchanges and gaming websites by international hacker Srikrishna Ramesh alias Sriki, 32, has uncovered prima facie evidence linking Bengaluru businessman Sunish Hegde, 34, to the proceeds of crime, a Bengaluru court ruled Thursday. Rejecting Hegde’s regular bail application on June 25, the Principal District and Sessions Court in Bengaluru observed that the materials collected during the money laundering investigation indicate his active involvement in the illicit operation. “On the contrary, the materials collected during investigation prima facie indicate his involvement in activities connected with the proceeds of crime and disclose his association with the principal accused and other participants in the alleged laundering process,” the court noted, adding that Hegde’s role cannot be characterised as “peripheral.” Hegde, who operates gambling and poker joints in Karnataka, was arrested by the ED on May 8 alongside prime accused Sriki and his accountant Robin Khandelwal, 32. The anti-money laundering agency is tracking various cyber …