Dawood-Khadse Call Logs: Hacker Files Plea in HC for CBI Probe

AAP had also alleged that Khadse received calls from Dawood’s Karachi residence.

Dawood Ibrahim (left) and Eknath Khadse (right). (Photo altered by The Quint)

A Gujarat-based man, who claims to have hacked the call records of Dawood Ibrahim, on Monday filed a petition in Bombay High Court seeking protection for himself and CBI probe against Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse for alleged calls between him and the underworld don.

The HC, however, said there was no urgency for a vacation bench to hear the petition.

Vadodara-based hacker Manish Bhangale’s advocate mentioned the petition before the vacation bench of justices B R Gavai and B P Colabawalla on 30 May and sought urgent hearing while claiming that the petitioner has been receiving death threats.

The bench, however, said there was nothing urgent in the petition. It directed the petitioner to mention the petition before the regular bench once the high court resumes after vacation on 6 June.

Bhangale claims to have hacked the authentication process of the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd in April this year from which he acquired the telephone records of underworld fugitive Dawood Ibrahim.

According to Bhangale’s petition, the information also includes alleged phone calls between Dawood and Maharashtra Revenue Minister Khadse. It added that Bhangale then tried to get in touch with the Prime Minister’s office and the office of National Security Advisor, but in vain.

After media broke the news, I was approached by Mumbai Police’s crime branch which took all information from me but till date, there has been no case registered or action taken.

<b>Petition </b>

Screen grab of Dawood Ibrahim. (Photo courtesy: Hindustan Times and TimesNow)

The petition alleges that Bhangale fears all the information he has provided to the police may be sabotaged.

Instead of recording statements and perusing evidence, the state government and police have shown haste in giving clean chit to the minister. The global data of telephone numbers gathered by me (petitioner) from the telephone bills of Dawood Ibrahim has the potential of exposing his financial empire ranging from films to cricket betting.&nbsp;

<b>Petition</b>

Bhangale has requested the HC to constitute a special team of CBI to probe the matter and submit periodical reports to the court.

He has also sought protection for himself as he fears a threat to his life.

The Aam Aadmi Party had recently demanded ouster of Khadse, alleging that calls were made from Dawood’s residence in Karachi to his mobile phone, a charge the minister rubbished as “baseless” saying the phone number was not in use for last one year.