Twist in Baba Siddique Murder: Court Sends Suspects to Police Custody, Fourth Accomplice Identified
MUMBAI — The investigation into the murder of NCP leader and former minister Baba Siddique has taken a significant step as the two arrested suspects were presented in court. On Sunday, the court sent both suspects to police custody until Oct. 21, granting the police additional time to interrogate them and gather more evidence.
Baba Siddique was shot and killed on Saturday night by masked assailants outside his son’s office in Bandra. He was hit by multiple bullets and was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The murder has shaken both Maharashtra’s political sphere and Bollywood, where Siddique was a well-known figure.
Police Remand and Investigation
The suspects, who were arrested soon after the crime, were brought before the Killa Court in Mumbai, where the police requested a 14-day remand. The court granted police custody until Oct. 21. During the court hearing, the police revealed that they had recovered 28 live cartridges from the suspects and were investigating whether Baba Siddique was the only target or if others were also in danger.
The Crime Branch has been tasked with handling the case, given its high-profile nature. Investigators have also linked the murder to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, further intensifying the probe.
Fourth Suspect Identified
In another twist to the case, a fourth suspect, Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar, has been identified. While the police have yet to disclose Akhtar's exact role in the assassination, they are pursuing leads on his whereabouts. Previously, three suspects—Dharmraj, Gurmail, and Shivkumar—were named in the investigation. Two of them have been arrested, while the third, Shivkumar, remains at large.
CCTV Footage and Hunt for Fugitive
Police have confirmed that all three suspects, including the fugitive Shivkumar, were previously incarcerated together in a Haryana jail. The trio was spotted on CCTV footage near Panvel in the Mumbai area, and the authorities are now expanding their search to locate Shivkumar. Several police teams have been deployed across different states, including Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, to track him down.
The murder of Baba Siddique has left a lasting impact on Maharashtra's political landscape, as many are still reeling from the shock. NCP, along with the Ajit Pawar faction, has canceled all scheduled programs in light of Siddique’s death.
As the investigation deepens, the police are working tirelessly to bring all those responsible for the murder to justice, ensuring that Siddique’s family and supporters see closure.
