Dawood call logs: Hacker's plea for CBI probe posted to Jun 14

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday posted for hearing on June 14 a petition filed by a Gujarat-based person, seeking CBI probe against former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse for alleged phone calls between him and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

The petitioner Manoj Bhangale's advocate Aparna Vatkar mentioned the petition today before a division bench of justices N H Patil and P D Naik which posted it for hearing on June 14.

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 Khadse.

As per the petition, Bhangale then tried to get in touch with the Prime Minister's Office and the office of National Security Adviser, 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," the petition states.

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," the petition claims.

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.

Facing heat over a series of allegations, including irregularities in a land deal in Pune and getting calls allegedly from fugitive Dawood Ibrahim's residence in Karachi on his mobile phone, besides the alleged bribe sought by a personal aid, Khadse had resigned from his post on June 4.