Mumbai: A shocking twist has emerged in the investigation into the assassination of Baba Siddique, former Congress leader and NCP member, who was gunned down on October 12 near his son Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Bandra. During the probe, police discovered Zeeshan Siddique’s photograph on the phone of one of the suspects involved in the crime.
According to police sources, the photograph was sent through Snapchat, a platform the shooters used to exchange covert messages, which were systematically deleted following orders from their handler—believed to have connections with the notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
Murder Orchestrated Amid Gaps in Security
Baba Siddique was shot at point-blank range as he exited his son’s office. The lone security constable accompanying him at the time did not retaliate, later claiming that his vision was impaired by a “chili-like substance” thrown in his face. The attackers created a smokescreen near the victim’s car, misleading onlookers into believing it was from firecrackers, effectively concealing the gunfire.
Nine Arrests, Some Still At Large
So far, nine individuals have been apprehended, including two of the three shooters. Five suspects—identified as Nitin Gautam Sapre, Sambhaji Kisan Pardhi, Pradeep Dattu Thombre, Chetan Dilip Pardhi, and Ram Fulchand Kanoujia—were detained for providing firearms and logistical support. However, three suspects, including the shooter Shivkumar Gautam, remain at large.
Initially, the contract to kill Siddique was handed to Kanoujia and Sapre, who reportedly demanded ₹1 crore but later refused the job. The task was then passed on to Dharmraj Kashyap, Gurnail Singh, and Shivkumar Gautam. Investigators revealed that the handlers selected individuals unfamiliar with Siddique’s stature in Maharashtra to ensure they would accept lower payment.
Links to Lawrence Bishnoi’s Crime Syndicate?
The investigation has also widened to explore potential connections between the accused and previous criminal activities associated with the Bishnoi gang. Notably, the same group has been linked to the shooting outside Bollywood star Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments earlier this year. A day after Siddique’s murder, a Facebook post suggested the Bishnoi gang’s involvement, leading to the arrest of Pravin Lonkar from Pune. His brother, Shubham Lonkar, who is believed to be the primary handler of the shooters, is still at large.
Lawrence Bishnoi, who has been in prison since 2015, is accused of running a transnational crime syndicate. His network has been tied to high-profile killings, including the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, as well as extortion and arms trafficking operations.
Investigative Spotlight on Security Lapses
Further scrutiny has been directed at the security arrangements for Siddique. Though he had a ‘2+1’ security protocol—two guards by day and one by night—only one constable accompanied him at the time of the attack. Just before the shooting, one guard left, leaving the senior politician vulnerable. The constable on duty has been suspended pending investigation into his failure to respond during the attack.
