Mumbai: Four people among the 18 suspects arrested for the October 12 killing of former minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique were allegedly promised a large sum of money, along with other rewards, in exchange for their involvement. Investigators said that during their interrogation that each was assured Rs 25 lakh, a car, a flat and a trip to Dubai. The city crime branch also arrested two more suspects from Pune on Wednesday in connection with the murder conspiracy.
The alleged planner, Ramphoolchand Kanojia, who had been arrested in October, reportedly gave these incentives to four key suspects: Rupesh Mohol (22), Shivam Kohad (20), Karan Salve (19) and Gaurav Apune (23). According to a senior police officer, Kanojia was set to receive funds from Zeeshan Akhtar (23), who remains at large. Akhtar, originally from Jalandhar, Punjab, is accused of managing multiple bank accounts and transferring over Rs four lakh to the suspects involved in Siddique’s killing.
2 suspects remanded to police custody
The two persons arrested on Wednesday, Aditya Gulankar (22) and Rafique Shaikh (22), who live in the Karve Nagar in Pune, were brought before the Esplanade court and remanded to police custody until November 13. According to sources, Gulankar and Shaikh, who come from financially strained backgrounds, were implicated following Mohol’s questioning. Authorities said that Gulankar had received firearms training near Khadakwasla, Pune, as part of the preparations.
Further details about the murder plot indicate that the suspects originally intended to include more gunmen but ultimately decided to limit the team to three shooters. Lonkar and Mohol, two other detained suspects, allegedly supplied a 9mm pistol to Gulankar and Shaikh. This firearm, which was reportedly transported back and forth between Pune and Mumbai, was later found from Kohad’s residence. Another country-made firearm was confiscated from Kanojia’s home in Panvel, while he reportedly returned a fifth weapon before the murder.
Baba Siddique murder
Baba Siddique was fatally shot by three assailants outside the office of his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique, in Bandra East on October 12. Although two of the gunmen were arrested soon after, the third managed to escape. So far, authorities have seized five firearms, including imported pistols, and 64 bullets in connection to the case. The motive behind Siddique’s murder remains unclear. Out of the 18 arrested suspects, 14 are currently in jail, while four remain in police custody.
