Mumbai: Mumbai Police’s Crime Branch on Friday arrested another suspect in connection with the murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique. Singh, a 32-year-old resident of Ghatkopar in Mumbai and originally from Uttar Pradesh, was apprehended in Ludhiana, where he was staying at his in-laws’ house. This arrest brings the total number of people taken into custody for the case to 15.
Siddique was shot dead on October 12 near the office of his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique, in Bandra East. The jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang claimed responsibility for the killing, and police believe the murder was carefully orchestrated by Bishnoi’s network. Three suspects are still on the run.
Pakistan drones used to supply guns?
According to the Crime Branch, Singh had connections with other accused in the case, including Ram Kanojia, Nitin Sapre, and Zeeshan Akhtar. Singh reportedly facilitated meetings among these people and assisted in the coordination of the murder plot. Investigators have uncovered records of multiple transactions between Singh, Kanojia and Sapre, which may have funded the attack.
The investigation revealed that four guns, rather than the previously believed three, were used in the killing. Police have recovered all four firearms and are exploring whether these guns might have been smuggled into India from Pakistan, possibly through drones, as reported by NDTV. Mumbai Police have also shared these findings with law enforcement agencies in Rajasthan for further inspection.
Connections to Lawrence Bishnoi Gang
The police have identified Haryana resident Gurmail Baljit Singh, Uttar Pradesh’s Dharmaraj Kashyap and the wanted accused Shivkumar Gautam as the three shooters. These men allegedly threw chilli powder at Siddique’s guard before shooting him. Gautam, along with Shubham Lonkar (brother of Pune-based accused Pravin Lonkar) and Zeeshan Akhtar, is currently evading arrest.
Akhtar, the main accused in the case, allegedly promised large payments and a foreign trip to the shooters in exchange for carrying out the hit. Another accomplice, Harish Kumar Nisad, a scrap dealer from Pune, is accused of providing financial support for the operation.
Lawrence Bishnoi gang, known for criminal activities including murder, extortion, and arms trafficking, has emerged as a key player in the murder plot. The gang’s rising influence has led to increased scrutiny, especially after several suspected shooters associated with the gang were detained by Delhi Police Special Cell while allegedly plotting another attack in Rajasthan.
