According to police reports on Sunday, the shooters were targeting Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister and leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), as well as his son Zeeshan Siddique, an MLA.
On Saturday night, three individuals shot and killed Baba Siddique, a three-time MLA, outside the Bandra office of his son, Zeeshan Siddiqui. After being sent to Lilavati Hospital, he was pronounced dead.
The police said that Mohammad Jasin Akhtar relayed information about Baba Siddique’s movement to the shooters, making him the fourth accused besides the three shooters involved in the killing of Baba Siddique. Akhtar also provided the shooters with logistical support, including renting a room.
Baba Siddique’s visit to Zeeshan’s office on the day of the incident was not part of the routine. Returning from a Garba event for Dussehra celebrations, the NCP leader had gone to his son’s office and enquired about Zeeshan.
Zeeshan, on the day of the incident, left the office moments before his father arrived, revealed sources.
When sitting inside the car, accused Shivkumar Gautam fired six rounds from a 9 mm pistol, of which two bullets hit the target. Sources claimed that the other two accused didn’t fire but were carrying 28 live cartridges.
Main Accused Fled After Throwing Chilli Powder
The main accused, Gautam, sprayed red chilli powder on the security personnel guarding Baba Siddique to evade arrest, said the police sources. All three gunmen had carried red chilli powder with them, they added.
During police questioning, Singh and Kashyap denied knowledge of the person who ordered the killing of Baba Siddique. However, they revealed that Shivkumar Gautam had received instructions to carry out the attack.
Baba Siddique Killing: 3 Arrested
So far, the police have arrested three persons in the case, including two of the three shooters- Gurmail Singh (From Haryana) and Dharamraj Kashyap (From Uttar Pradesh). Shivkumar Gautam is still absconding and efforts are on the capture him.
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch on Monday also arrested Pravin Lonkar from Pune in connection with NCP leader Baba Siddique’s Murder case.
The Mumbai Police claimed that Pravin is the brother of Shubuu Lonkar who posted on social media that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has taken responsibility for the murder of Baba Siddique. Shubuu Lonkar is absconding at the moment.
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Source: News 18
