Mumbai: In the case of murder of NCP leader Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai, the accused have made a big disclosure during police interrogation. According to sources, shooters from Thane and Pune were initially approached for the murder, but due to their high demand, the contract was later given to a team from Uttar Pradesh.
The police revealed that Shubham Lonkar, one of the main accused, first contacted shooters from the Thane and Pune module. These shooters demanded a hefty sum of Rs 1 crore to carry out the murder of Baba Siddiqui. Due to the high amount, Shubham backed out and decided to hire shooters from Uttar Pradesh instead.
Why shooters from UP were hired?
Shubham Lonkar believed that the shooters from UP would not be aware of Baba Siddiqui’s powerful reputation in Maharashtra and would agree to do the job for a lower fee.
Among the hired shooters were Dharamraj and Shivkumar Gurnel, part of a North Indian criminal module. They were the ones who eventually carried out the fatal shooting. However, police are still investigating how much money was exchanged between Shubham and the shooters.
Photo of Zeeshan Siddiqui found
Police also recovered a photograph of Baba Siddiqui’s son, Zeeshan Siddiqui, from the mobile phone of one of the arrested accused. The photo had been shared via Snapchat by Shubham Lonkar’s handler.
This has raised questions about whether Zeeshan was also a potential target. During the attack, Zeeshan was with his father but managed to survive because he received a phone call and stayed behind.
Police suspect a larger conspiracy
According to police sources, they suspect that Shubham Lonkar, Shivkumar, and Zeeshan could be the key masterminds behind the entire conspiracy. Another accused, Ram Kanojia, was arrested and, although he is originally from Uttar Pradesh, he has been living in Panvel, Navi Mumbai. The police are now investigating his role in the murder.
The police have also taken action against Baba Siddiqui’s bodyguard, Constable Sham Sonavane, for negligence during the attack. Sonavane was on duty at the time of the shooting on October 12 but failed to protect Baba Siddiqui. In his statement, he claimed that there was heavy smoke from firecrackers, which prevented him from seeing the attackers. After a preliminary investigation, the police found his explanation unsatisfactory and suspended him for failing in his duty.
Was Zeeshan also a target?
One of the lingering questions in the case is whether Zeeshan Siddiqui was also a target. The shooters fired at Baba Siddiqui while Zeeshan was present, but he escaped unharmed due to a phone call that delayed him.
Police are now probing this angle further, especially after Zeeshan’s photograph was found on the accused’s phone.
