Week after Baba Siddique's murder, nine arrested and son Zeeshan's photo found in shooter's phone

The investigation into the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique has intensified, with Mumbai police arresting nine suspects in connection with the case. Among the alarming findings, a photograph of Siddique's son, Zeeshan Siddique, was discovered on the phone of one of the shooters, indicating that he may have also been targeted. This critical piece of evidence raises concerns about the safety of Zeeshan, who is a sitting MLA, as investigators believe that he might have been on the hit list.

Baba Siddique, aged 66, was shot dead on October 12, 2024, outside his son’s office in the upscale Bandra East area of Mumbai. Eyewitnesses reported that three assailants approached Siddique and fired multiple rounds, two of which struck him. Following the murder, the police swiftly launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of five suspects who allegedly provided logistical support and firearms to the shooters. This latest round of arrests brings the total to nine, but three key individuals, including the primary shooter, Shivkumar Gautam, remain at large.

The police are investigating possible links to the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has been involved in various criminal enterprises across India. Notably, the gang's connection has raised alarms after a sharpshooter, Yogesh, was filmed while in police custody, where he made statements about Baba Siddique's murder. Following this revelation, three police officers in Mathura were suspended for allegedly mishandling their duties, raising questions about police negligence in protecting Siddique and others potentially involved.

As part of the investigation, authorities have uncovered that the shooters communicated through Snapchat, with messages being sent and deleted under specific instructions. Shubham Lonkar, believed to be the handler linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, reportedly sent the photo of Zeeshan Siddique to the shooters, amplifying fears of ongoing threats against him.

Moreover, during interrogation, Ram Kanojia, one of the arrested suspects, revealed that he was initially offered a contract of one crore rupees to kill Baba Siddique. He indicated that Shubham Lonkar, who remains on the run, was the one who provided the order for the assassination, further complicating the investigation. The Mumbai police have established multiple teams to track down the remaining fugitives while closely monitoring the broader criminal network associated with this high-profile case.