Cybercrime targeting cryptocurrency across the internet is unfortunately not unheard of, but criminals directing their attention to steal the digital currency physically is an entirely new concern.

This is especially true when the criminals are officers of the law.

According to the Times of India, ten police officers in Gujurat have been charged by the city’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) for crimes involving kidnapping, violent behaviour and corruption. This comes after the cops allegedly captured a businessman and attempted to force 200 Bitcoins out of him.

The CID filed a First Information Report (FIR) with eleven names accused – including the ten police officers – for felonies which range from abduction to attempt of extortion by an official employee of the government.

The general director of the police in the unit, Ashish Bhatia, said that the investigation has not been able to ascertain the transaction of Bitcoins or cash transactions. He said that currently three suspects have been apprehended – two of whom are from the Amreli police department and a private individual from the city of Surat. He confirmed that a special investigation team, headed up by deputy inspector general Dipankar Trivedi, has been formed in order to continue the probe.

The police officials have so far been accused of abducting three local residents – Shailesh Bhatt, Kirit Paladiya and a driver under the name of Mahipal – and beating them in a farmhouse. The abduction and violence led to the officers coercing them to transfer Bitcoins.

“The FIR has been filed on the basis of evidence found by the team so far” Bhatia has said, and Shailesh Bhatt “had mentioned the transfer of 200 Bitcoins worth Rs 12 crore from the digital wallet of his business partner, Kirit Paladiya.” The general director also said that a further “Rs 32 crore were allegedly paid for their release from a farmhouse. Later, Rs 78.5 lakh were allegedly paid to get the Bitcoins back.”

In what must be a frustrating situation, Bhatia also admitted that all of the transactions mentioned in the application can not be proven.

At the current time of press, three of the police officers have been detained and the team on the investigation is working hard to find the remaining suspects for their crimes.