The investigation into the shocking murder of former Congress leader Baba Siddique has taken a significant turn with the arrest of five more individuals. These arrests bring the total number of suspects apprehended in the case to nine, with three key individuals still on the run. The police allege that the newly arrested individuals provided firearms and logistical support to the shooters who carried out the assassination.
Baba Siddique, a prominent figure in Maharashtra politics, was fatally shot on October 12 near his son’s office in Mumbai’s Bandra area. He succumbed to his injuries at Lilavati Hospital. The investigation, led by the Mumbai Crime Branch, has revealed a complex network of individuals involved in the conspiracy and execution of the murder.
According to police sources, the five apprehended suspects were in contact with Shubham Lonkar and Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar, both of whom remain at large. Lonkar is believed to be a conspirator in the murder, while Akhtar is suspected to be a key mastermind. Akhtar’s alleged connections to the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang have further deepened the intrigue surrounding the case.
The Crime Branch conducted a series of operations across the state, including Panvel and Karjat in neighboring Raigad district, to apprehend the suspects. Evidence gathered through human intelligence and technical analysis linked the five individuals to the conspiracy and execution of the crime.
Following their arrest, the suspects were presented before a court, which remanded them in police custody until October 25. Police interrogation has revealed that two of the suspects, Nitin Gautam Sapre and Ram Fulchand Kanoujia, played pivotal roles in the murder. Sapre and Kanoujia were reportedly key members of a module that supplied the weapons used to murder Baba Siddique.
The five individuals arrested were identified as Nitin Gautam Sapre (32), Sambhaji Kisan Pardhi (44), Pradeep Dattu Thombre (37), Chetan Dilip Pardhi, and Ram Fulchand Kanoujia (43). Sapre hails from Dombivali, while Pardhi, Thombre, and Pardhi (27) are from Ambernath in Thane district. Kanoujia resides in Panvel, Raigad.
The firearms used in the murder included foreign-made Tisas and Glock pistols, as well as a country-made pistol. Police believe the firearms were procured from North India and delivered in mid-September. The module is also suspected to have provided financial assistance and logistical support to the shooters. Two of the alleged shooters, Shivkumar Gautam and Dharmaraj Kashyap, who remain on the run, are believed to have stayed with members of the module in August.
The ongoing investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy and bring all those responsible for Baba Siddique’s murder to justice. With the arrests of these five individuals, the police are getting closer to unraveling the intricate network that orchestrated this heinous crime.