Hindustan Times via Getty Images MUMBAI, INDIA - SEPTEMBER 25: BJP leaders Eknath Khadse and Devendra Fadnavis during a press conference on September 25, 2014 in Mumbai, India. The BJP ended its 25-year-old alliance with the Shiv Sena and decided to contest the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections with smaller allied parties. (Photo by Kunal Patil/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Till about a few days back, Eknath Khadse was known as a powerful minister in Devendra Fadnavis' cabinet, handling important portfolios like minority development, excise, revenue, wakf, animal husbandry, dairy development and fisheries and agriculture. Then allegations that Khadse had been in touch with Dawood Ibrahim surfaced. Aam Aadmi Party Spokesperson Preeti Sharma Menon had levelled the allegation against Mr Khadse last week. Ms Menon had alleged, citing the call records obtained from a Pakistani telecom company by an Ahmedabad-based hacker, that calls were made from Dawood's house in Karachi to a mobile number registered in Mr Khadse's name. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis promptly directed the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) to probe into the allegations. Khadse rubbished Menon's claims and said that the number cited has not been in use for over a year. Now DNA has reported that if the ATS finds links between Khadse and the gangster, Khadse could face strict action.