MUMBAI: BJP on Tuesday inducted former Shiv Sena (UBT) Nashik unit chief Sudhakar Badgujar, whom it had accused of partying with 1993 bomb blasts case convict Salim Kutta of the Dawood gang, into the party. After BJP’s allegations in 2023, Devendra Fadnavis as then deputy CM had announced a SIT probe into Badgujar’s alleged gangland links, reports Clara Lewis.Badgujar’s alleged links with Kutta were raised in the legislative assembly by BJP’s Nitesh Rane, who demanded his arrest and submitted photos of Badgujar partying with Kutta. Shiv Sena’s Dada Bhuse also raised the issue. Weeks ago, Shiv Sena (UBT) expelled Badgujar as word spread he may join BJP. Two weeks ago, Badgujar met Fadnavis.Interestingly, BJP state president Chandrashekar Bawankule initially claimed ignorance about Badjugar joining BJP, saying he was “not aware”. However, when Badgujar arrived with his supporters at BJP state headquarters in Mumbai at around 3.30pm, he was welcomed by Bawankule,state BJP executive president Ravindra Chavan and cabinet minister Girish Mahajan.Former Shiv Sena-BJP govt minister Babanrao Gholap also joined BJP with Badgujar. Since speculation began about Badgujar’s induction, BJP’s Nashik unit voiced unhappiness. Nashik unit president Sunil Kedar, who opposed his entry, attended Tuesday’s event, but Nashik West BJP MLA Seema Hiray, whom Badgujar had contested against, stayed away.Bawankule said every entry into the BJP is for development. Chavan said the trust they had placed in the BJP would not be misplaced. Meanwhile, four former UBT Sena corporators from Nashik joined Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena on Tuesday.Inputs from Abhilash Botekar in Nashik