Aftab Poonawalla On Lawrence Bishnoi Gang's Target? Baba Siddique's Shooter Makes This Revelation
Investigation into the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique led the Mumbai police to a shocking revelation about Shraddha Walkar's murder accused Aftab Poonawalla of being the target of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Shivakumar Gautam, alias Shiva, the main suspect in Siddique's murder revealed that Shubham Lonkar, a Bishnoi gang member had discussed attacking Poonawalla. However, the idea was shelved due to Poonawalla's heightened security, reported the Times of India.
“Shiva disclosed that Shubham Lonkar, a member of the Bishnoi gang, and other senior figures had expressed intentions to target Aftab," said a Mumbai Police official involved in the investigation. The intelligence has been shared with Delhi police for further security measures, the official added.
Taking cognisance of the media reports, the administration of the Tihar Jail, where Poonawalla is currently lodged, increased the accused's security. He is currently lodged in Tihar Jail No. 4, reported PTI.
In May 2022, Aftab Poonawalla strangulated his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar in their Delhi flat. He then chopped her body into 35 pieces stored them in a refrigerator and later disposed of them over 18 days at various locations across the national capital.
The couple had relocated from Mumbai to Delhi and lived in the Mehrauli area after an estranged relationship with the Walkar family who disapproved of their relationship.
During the investigation into the Baba Siddique murder case, Shiva made some other confessions about the day of the murder. Baba Siddique was shot dead by assailants outside his MLA son Zeeshan's office in Mumbai's Bandra East area.
Following the attack, Gautam said he tried to blend in with the crowd but his plot was foiled after two police officers asked him about the shooters. He managed to flee the scene, while his accomplices - Dharamraj Kashyap and Gurmail Singh - were arrested.
Gautam confessed that after the attack he discarded his bag and weapon under a parked car. He changed his shirt, dumped the bag, and checked the crowd's reaction to see if the job was done properly, he told the police.
The bag was later recovered by the police and contained a Turkish Tisas pistol, over two dozen bullets, and the discarded shirt.