Mumbai: The plan to assassinate former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique was allegedly hatched just 10 days after the April 14 shooting outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s Bandra residence, Mumbai Police’s Crime Branch sources have said.
On that day, two motorbike riders fired several rounds outside Khan’s home. After that, swift police action and multiple arrests happened. Investigators believe the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, responsible for the attack, then targeted people close to Salman Khan. Among them, Baba Siddique, a longtime friend of the actor, became a key focus, NDTV reported.
Gang used ‘dabba calling’ for covert operations
The investigation revealed the gang’s use of “dabba calling,” an illegal telephone exchange method for covert communication. The technique involves using a secondary phone, or “dabba,” to issue threats and coordinate crimes while evading police surveillance. Anmol Bishnoi, brother of Lawrence Bishnoi, is said to have relied heavily on this system to direct operatives like Shiv Kumar Gautam, Zeeshan Akhtar, Shubham Lonkar and Sujit Singh.
The gang had built a telecommunication network to ensure seamless real-time communication during their operations. The system provided a shield against police tracking and improved their coordination capabilities.
Baba Siddique murder
On October 12, Baba Siddique, 66, was shot dead near his son and MLA Zeeshan Siddique’s Bandra office. Sources said that Shiv Kumar Gautam, the suspected lead shooter, stayed at the scene for 20 minutes after the attack. He reportedly got rid of incriminating items, including his weapon, shirt and Aadhaar card, before blending into the panicked crowd. To confirm Siddique’s death, Gautam allegedly visited Lilavati Hospital before heading to Kurla railway station and disposed of his mobile phone along the way to destroy evidence.
Investigators also found details about another accused, Shubham Lonkar, who allegedly received weapons training in Chhattisgarh’s forests in July. This training reportedly included handling an AK-47, with a possible connection to Maoists, which remains under scrutiny. Police continue to probe the case. They aim to find important evidence, which included Gautam’s discarded phone.
