Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was shot dead by three assailants outside the office of his son, Zeeshan Siddique, in Mumbai's Bandra East area on Saturday. According to the police, the assailants arrived at the crime scene in an auto-rickshaw before opening fire on the 66-year-old NCP leader. Two suspected assailants were arrested shortly after the incident and a third suspect remains at large. A fourth individual is believed to have provided real-time information on Siddique's movements to the assailants.


Baba Siddique Murder Followed 2 Months Of Planning?


Mumbai DCP Crime Branch Datta Nalawade on Sunday detailed the sequence of events regarding Baba Siddique's murder stating that he was shot on Saturday evening around 9.30 pm.


Addressing a press conference, he informed, "The accused had brought pepper spray, first, the accused were about to spray and then they were about to fire but the third accused Shiv Kumar Gautam started firing directly. Three constables were with Baba Siddiqui and at the time of the incident also three constables were there but they could not do anything. One more person has been injured in this firing", news agency ANI reported.


Two pistols and 28 rounds have been recovered from the accused, the senior cop mentioned. 


The attackers, who had been tracking Siddique’s movements for over two months, used firecrackers as cover to carry out the shooting, according to police sources cited by News 18. The shooters had recced Siddique’s house and office premises for around two months and were keeping an eye on him.


The attack unfolded during Dussehra celebrations when firecrackers were being burst outside Zeeshan Siddique’s office. Under the cover of these firecracker explosions, three masked attackers emerged from a vehicle and opened fire on Baba Siddique using a 9.9 mm pistol. According to the police, six rounds were fired, with two bullets striking Siddique, while another bullet damaged the windshield of his vehicle. Bullet casings were recovered from the scene.


According to News 18, the sources also indicated that three of the four accused in the case reportedly received their weapons via a prepaid courier and were paid Rs 50,000 for the murder. They revealed that the three had been living in a rented room in Kurla since September 2, paying a monthly rent of Rs 14,000. 


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Baba Siddique Murder: What We Know About Four Suspects


Two youths from Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh, identified as Dharmaraj Kashyap and Shiv Kumar alias Shiva Gautam, have been implicated in the killing of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique. The incident occurred on Saturday night in Mumbai when Siddique (66) was shot dead by three assailants outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office in Kher Nagar, Bandra. 


According to news agency PTI, Superintendent of Police (SP) Vrinda Shukla informed on Sunday that both Dharmaraj and Shiv Kumar were residents of Gandara village in Bahraich and had moved to Pune, Maharashtra, to work at a scrap shop. "They have no criminal history in Bahraich," Shukla stated, adding that the police are gathering further information about their background as a precaution.


Kaiserganj Circle Officer Anil Kumar Singh mentioned that Shiv Kumar had gone to Maharashtra a few years ago to work as a labourer and later invited Dharmaraj to join him. Shiv Kumar’s mother, Suman, expressed shock over the allegations, describing her son as "hardworking and peaceful." She noted that he had last visited their village during Holi. "Policemen and media people have been coming and going since morning asking about Shiva. The police have questioned us too," she added.


Dharmaraj's mother, Kusum, echoed similar sentiments, stating, "When the police came to our house in the morning, we came to know that my son is involved in some case." She explained that her son had been working as a scrap dealer in Pune. Despite their lack of criminal history in Bahraich, SP Shukla emphasised, "The police are trying to gather information about both of them."


The head of Gandara village, Hasnain Kamal, remarked that the villagers were surprised by the accusations against the two. "Both Shiva and Dharmaraj have no criminal history in the village and could be victims of a conspiracy," he suggested.


The family of one of the accused in the murder of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique has distanced itself from him, claiming that they had disowned him over a decade ago. Gurmail Singh, who hails from Narar village in Kaithal, Haryana, was among those apprehended. His 60-year-old grandmother, Phuli Devi, told news agency IANS, "We disowned him 11 years ago and have no relation with him. The last time we saw him was four months ago." She emphasised that the family has had no contact with him since then.


According to IANS, sources revealed that Singh had been lodged in Kaithal jail in Haryana for a 2022 murder case. After his release on bail, he relocated to Mumbai, where he reportedly came into contact with members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. It is believed that his association with the gang began while serving his sentence in Kaithal jail, ultimately leading to his involvement in the plot to kill Baba Siddique.


Besides the three attackers, the police on Sunday named Jalandhar-based Mohammad Jasin Akhtar as the fourth suspect in the case. The police stated that Akhtar was arrested by Jalandhar Rural Police in 2022 for organised crime, murder, and robbery, ANI reported. He is believed to have directed the three shooters from outside. He allegedly gave the shooters information about Siddique's location at the time of the attack and also assisted with logistical support, including arranging rental rooms.


ANI cited police sources from Punjab as divulging that Akhtar had been imprisoned in Patiala Jail, where he reportedly met the Lawrence Bishnoi gang members. He was released from jail on June 7 earlier this year and then got involved with the criminal gang.


The notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for the murder through a social media post, although the police are yet to verify its authenticity.


Baba Siddique was known for his close association with Bollywood actor Salman Khan. Notably, Khan has previously faced threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and its associates. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities looking into various aspects of the case, including the motive behind the killing.


Meanwhile, Mumbai Police have initiated a probe into the killing of Siddique, exploring various angles, including the possibility of a contract killing, business rivalry, or a threat related to a slum rehabilitation project. Officials noted that they are also examining a social media post in which an alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the murder.


Siddique was rushed to Lilavati Hospital following the attack, where he was declared dead.