India, May 30 -- Czech Republic's justice minister Pavel Blazek on Friday stepped down amid growing public and political pressure over his ministry's handling of a controversial Bitcoin donation linked to a convicted criminal.

The scandal erupted after local media reported that the ministry had accepted a "cryptocurrency gift" from a convicted drug dealer, later selling the Bitcoin for around 1 billion koruna (approximately $45 million), according to a Bloomberg report.

State prosecutors then launched an investigation into the matter.

Although Blazek denied any wrongdoing, he announced his resignation on social media platform X, stating that he was unaware of any illegal activity but did not want to tarnish the government's image.

"I ...