The murder of NCP leader Baba Siddiqui has sent shockwaves through Mumbai. Siddiqui, a prominent Muslim leader known for his close connections with Bollywood stars, was shot and killed on Saturday night, marking the first high-profile political murder in the city in nearly three decades.
Here’s a timeline of events leading up to Siddiqui’s death and the subsequent investigation:
Saturday, October 14th:
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9:00 PM:
Siddiqui left his office to attend a celebration where he planned to burst firecrackers. While celebrating, three individuals approached him from a nearby vehicle. The assailants, who arrived in an auto rickshaw, had their faces covered with handkerchiefs. They opened fire, shooting Siddiqui three times.*
9:15 – 9:30 PM:
The gunfire caused panic among the crowd attending the celebration. The police investigation revealed that the assailants took advantage of the festive noise from a Durga visarjan procession to mask the sound of the gunshots. Siddiqui was hit in the chest and collapsed. The police were immediately alerted and rushed to the scene to secure the area and gather information.*
9:30 PM:
Siddiqui was rushed to Lilavati Hospital. Despite extensive resuscitation efforts, he succumbed to his injuries at 11:27 PM. A forensic team visited the crime scene to collect evidence, while Mumbai police reviewed CCTV footage from nearby areas.Sunday, October 15th:
*
6:00 AM:
Siddiqui’s body was taken to Cooper Hospital for a post-mortem examination.*
11:00 PM:
The third suspect in the murder case, identified as 28-year-old Pravin Lonkar, was arrested in Pune. According to Mumbai police, Lonkar was one of the conspirators who recruited Dharmaraj Kashyap and Shivkumar Gautam for the assassination plot.The Investigation and Accused:
* Two of the accused, Karnail Singh from Haryana and Dharamraj Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh, were arrested. The third accused, Shiv Kumar from Uttar Pradesh, remains at large.
* Gurmail Singh was sent to Mumbai Crime Branch custody until October 21st.
* Mohammad Zeeshan Akhtar was identified as another suspect in connection with the case.
Motive and Planning:
* The assailants had been renting a house in Kurla for the past 25 to 30 days. They conducted reconnaissance of Siddiqui’s house and office, having been in Mumbai for approximately one and a half to two months while monitoring him.
* Each of the shooters was reportedly paid ₹ 50,000.
Lawrence Bishnoi’s Claim of Responsibility:
* Lawrence Bishnoi, a notorious gangster, claimed responsibility for Siddiqui’s murder through a Facebook post. The post stated that Siddiqui’s death was due to his close ties with Bollywood actor Salman Khan and alleged connections to underworld figures like Dawood Ibrahim.
* Bishnoi’s gang mentioned Anuj Thapan, who was involved in a shooting incident outside Salman Khan’s home and later died by suicide in police custody.
* The post warned that the gang would retaliate if any of their members were harmed, emphasizing their lack of prior aggression. It also highlighted Siddiqui’s past associations with Dawood under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
Siddiqui’s Profile and Background:
* Siddiqui was known for hosting grand Iftar parties that attracted top Bollywood stars. He had close relationships with several celebrities, including Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Sanjay Dutt.
* The murder has heightened security concerns for Salman Khan, who has received threats from Lawrence Bishnoi and his gang multiple times, primarily due to the 1998 blackbuck hunting case.
The investigation into Siddiqui’s murder is ongoing. The case has highlighted the intricate connections between Bollywood, politics, and the underworld, adding another layer of complexity to the already complex landscape of crime in Mumbai.
