Eknath Khadse-Dawood Ibrahim link: Hacker Manish Bhangale held for forgery

Mumbai: 'Ethical' hacker Manish Bhangale, who had accused former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse of receiving calls from Dawood Ibrahim's Karachi residence, was arrested on Friday for allegedly creating a fake phone bill in this connection.

Bhangale had created the fake mobile bill on a computer to show call records between Khadse and Dawood's residence in Pakistan, an official said.

"We arrested Bhangale today and he will be produced in court in some time," Sanjay Saxena, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) told PTI.

"Bhangale was arrested for allegedly making fake documents in connection with Khadse's alleged link with Dawood Ibrahim. He allegedly created the fake mobile bill on a computer to show call records between Khadse and Dawood's Karachi residence," he said.

An offence was registered against Bhangale under IPC sections 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record) read with 66 D of the Information Technology Act, the official said.

Khadse, who held several key portfolios in the state Cabinet, had resigned in June 2016 after facing a string of allegations including irregularities in a land deal.