The murder of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique is believed to be a pre-planned act, according to a Mumbai police official, as reported by PTI. The Mumbai police have confirmed that the crime branch is investigating the case from multiple angles, including the possibility of a contract killing, business rivalry, or threats related to a slum rehabilitation project.
Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the murder. They have been identified as Gurmail Baljit Singh (23) from Haryana and Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap (19) from Uttar Pradesh. However, one suspect remains at large, and police teams are actively searching for him.
According to ANI, citing Mumbai police, senior officers from the Mumbai Crime Branch are questioning both arrested accused. The accused, who had been in Mumbai for around one and a half to two months, conducted reconnaissance of Siddiqui’s house and office while keeping him under surveillance. They received arms delivery a few days prior to the attack and were paid in advance for the crime. The Mumbai Police confirmed that the accused were questioned for eight hours.
The incident occurred in Mumbai’s Bandra area, just outside the office of Siddiqui’s son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique. Three individuals attacked Siddiqui, who was taken to Lilavati Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A forensic team examined the crime scene, collecting evidence, and police reviewed CCTV footage from nearby areas for further details about the attack. The shooters fired four to five rounds from a 9.9 MM pistol, which has been recovered by the police.
The police have registered a case against all three suspects under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including murder, as well as provisions of the Arms Act and the Maharashtra Police Act. Multiple teams have been formed to investigate the case, with some deployed outside Maharashtra to locate the third suspect.
