Baba Siddique Murder: Shubuu Lonkar's Brother Nabbed From Pune, Gave Shelter To Arrested Accused

Mumbai Police's Crime Branch arrested Pravin Lonkar for aiding the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique.

A third arrest has been made by Mumbai Police Crime Branch in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique.

Source : PTI

Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police has arrested Pravin Lonkar from Pune in connection with the high-profile murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, said the police on Monday. 

Pravin is the brother of Shubuu Lonkar who posted on social media that Lawrence Bishnoi's gang has taken responsibility for the murder. 

He gave shelter to both arrested accused, Gurmail Singh and Dharamraj Kashyap, the police said, adding that Shubuu is absconding at the moment. 

According to the Crime Branch, Pravin and his brother Shubham aka Shubuu “enlisted” two alleged shooters, Dharamraj Kashyap and Shivkumar Gautam, both residents of Uttar Pradesh, reported PTI.

The police went to Pune looking for Shubham Lonkar but did not find him there, said a police official, adding that they nabbed his brother Pravin for his alleged involvement in the crime. 

Gurmail Singh was remanded in police custody till October 21 on Sunday by a Mumbai court. It also ordered a bone ossification test on Kashyap after he claimed he was a minor. The test proved Kashyap is not a minor, said an official on Monday. 

The former three-time MLA and Maharashtra minister, Baba Siddique was fatally shot on Saturday night while leaving his office in upscale Bandra in Mumbai. He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital where he was declared dead. 

He was laid to rest with full state honours amid rain at Bada Kabrastan in the Marine Lines area in the presence of a large number of people and political leaders across the spectrum and tight security.

The funeral procession began from his Bandra residence Maqba Heights, following Namaaz-e-Janaza. Draped in the Tricolour, his mortal remains were taken in an ambulance to the final destination via the sea link, a distance of 17 km.

Siddique was a prominent Muslim leader from Mumbai who was known for his close affinity with several Bollywood stars, particularly Salman Khan in particular.