CM to order ATS probe into allegations on Khadse

MUMBAI: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will order the anti-terrorist squad (ATS) to investigate into the allegations made against state revenue minister Eknath Khadse over his alleged links with fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

“Following a request by revenue minister, ATS chief Atul Kulkarni will now probe the matter,” Fadnavis said while confirming the development with HT.

This move follows fresh claims made by ethical hacker Manish Bhangale about seven calls allegedly made on Khadse’s phone from the Karachi residence of the fugitive gangster. The revenue minister, who has been facing a series of allegations, had himself asked the chief minister to order the ATS to look into the allegations.

Bhangale and AAP leader Preeti Menon claimed that the calls were made from Dawood’s residence on Khadse’s number between January and March 2015. They have has also claimed that the call of the longest duration was made on March 23, 2015.

To corner the state government further over allegations levelled against one of its senior-most ministers, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday demanded Centre’s intervention to find out the truth. “The allegations are very serious in nature. The Central government must investigate the matter and come out with the truth,” Chavan told HT.

The NCP had demanded National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe in to the allegations.