Eknath Khadse has Courted too Many Controversies

Eknath Khadse is a prominent leader of BJP in Maharashtra. Recently he has been in news for all wrong reasons. His name has got embroiled in three controversies back to back.

The first one was that his PA was caught demanding bribe of Rs. 30 crore, second one was about he having conversations with India's most wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim and the third one is about minister buying MIDC land at throwaway price on his wife and son-in-law's name.

About Eknath Khadse:

He had been elected as Leader of Opposition in 2010's Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. He is an excellent orator and coming from a farmer's family has advocated farmers issues all through his political career.

Currently he is serving as Minister of Revenue, Agriculture, State Excise in the Government of Maharashtra. He was the most popular choice for becoming Chief Minister of Maharashtra when BJP and Shiv Sena alliance formed government in 2014.

Controversy:

Two ethical hackers Manish Bhangale and Jayesh Shah allegedly hacked into the database of pakistan Telecommunication LTD and managed to get the call records of four landline telephones. The landlines have been registered in the name of Dawood Ibrahim's wife Mehjabeen Shaikh.

Preeti Sharma Menon from AAP created a controversy by stating that Eknath Khadse's number was seen in Dawood Ibrahim's call logs. She said it was really shocking.

In reply to the allegation Eknath Khadse said that number did belong to him but it was not in use since last one year. However, bill records proved otherwise. Khadse then said that it was a possibility that his sim was cloned and thus shows calls coming to Dawood Ibrahim to the number.

The minister had told two days back that he will drag Preeti Sharma Menon to court for her baseless allegation. Adding that she has few defamation cases already against her.

On the 14th of May Eknath Khadse also got involved in another controversy when his PA was caught seeking a bribe for Rs. 30 crore. Opposition mentioned that no PA can seek such huge amount as bribe without the knowledge of the minister.

His name is also come up in the of purchase of a 3-acre plot in the MIDC, from the original owner. It is said the land was sold to MIDC by the original owner 25 years back. Pune based builder Hemant Gavande presented documents that show the land was purchased on the name of minister's wife and son-in-law.

Positives for Eknath Khadse:

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit president Raosaheb Danve called allegations levelled against Eknath Khadse as unsubstantiated and said that BJP stood by the minister.

No calls were made or received on Maharashtra Revenue Mins #EknathKhadse 's phone from underworld don #DawoodIbrahim 's number: MumbaiPolice

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) May 22, 2016

Negatives for Eknath Khadse:

Did Eknath Khadse lie about his phone being out of service? Received calls from Dawood b/w 5/9/15 to 5/4/16! #SackEknathKhadse

— Aam Aadmi Party- AAP (@AamAadmiParty) May 21, 2016

Ethical Hacker Manish Liladhar Bhangale has refuted Eknath Khadse's claim that the no. 9423073667 is not in operation.#SackEknathKhadse

— Aam Aadmi Party- AAP (@AamAadmiParty) May 21, 201

In first 3 months of 2015, 7 calls exchanged between Dawood landline & Khadse mobile. Longest call 5:22 minutes. Charge Rs 46.41 Pak.

— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) May 23, 2016

Here's what Pakistan Telecom invoice looks like. These are Khadse-Dawood call details for first three months of 2015 pic.twitter.com/07Ss4FeoAy

— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) May 24, 2016

Onus on Eknath Khadse to make his Call Detail Records for last 7 months public. Hacker has demolished each line of defence so far.

— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) May 24, 2016

Maharashtra Government's stand:

The Maharashtra government has ordered an inquiry after media reports were published which claimed that Eknath Khadse's phone number was the most-dialled number by India's most-wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim.