On Sunday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Crime Branch Datta Nalawade shared that the police recovered two pistols and 28 live bullets from the suspects involved in the crime.
The Mumbai police, probing the shocking murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique, are considering multiple angles, including the possibility of involvement from the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has a history of high-profile threats and crimes.
The Murder of Former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique
Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was tragically shot outside his son’s office in Bandra on Saturday night by three individuals. After the attack, Siddique was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Arrests and Investigation Developments
Out of the three assailants, two have been apprehended by the police, while the third is still on the run. At a press conference, the police revealed that the trio had carried pepper spray but were unable to use it during the attack.
DCP Nalawade confirmed the seizure of two firearms and live ammunition from the arrested suspects. He also noted that the police are actively investigating whether the Lawrence Bishnoi gang played a role in the murder.
“At around 9 to 9:30 PM, former state minister Baba Siddique was shot outside his son’s office under the jurisdiction of Nirmal Nagar police station,” Nalawade explained. “A case has been registered, and the Crime Branch is leading the investigation. Two suspects were detained at the scene, and we recovered two pistols along with 28 rounds of ammunition. We are holding the suspects in custody until October 21, and we are closely investigating the possible involvement of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.”
Social Media Post Raises Questions
A post on social media, allegedly made by a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility for the killing, suggesting that Siddique was targeted because of his close association with Bollywood actor Salman Khan. The authorities are working to verify the authenticity of this post.
“At this moment, we are examining the credibility of this social media post, which claims responsibility for the attack,” Nalawade added.
Although Siddique did not have an officially designated security detail, three Mumbai police officers were assigned to him for protection. At the time of the attack, one of these officers was present, and authorities are investigating all possible connections, including ties to Salman Khan and Lawrence Bishnoi.
The Ongoing Manhunt
Police have confirmed that there were three people involved in the crime. Two of them have been arrested, while the third remains at large. Fifteen teams from the Crime Branch are actively searching for the missing suspect.
Why the Attackers Brought Pepper Spray
The accused reportedly carried pepper spray with the intention of disabling Siddique before shooting him. However, their plan went awry when the third assailant, identified as Shiv Kumar Gautam, immediately opened fire on the NCP leader.
The police explained, “Two pistols were recovered from the suspects. Initially, they planned to use pepper spray on Siddique before firing, but Gautam started shooting right away. Despite having three security personnel with him at the time, the officers were unable to prevent the attack. Another person was also injured during the shooting.”
Legal Actions and Charges
A case has been filed at Nirmal Nagar Police Station under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections 103(1), 109, 125, and 3(5). Additional charges have been brought under the Arms Act and the Maharashtra Police Act.
Possible Gang Involvement
A social media post, purportedly from a Lawrence Bishnoi gang member, reiterated that the NCP leader’s murder was due to his close relationship with Salman Khan. Mumbai Police are continuing their investigation and have seen the post, though they have yet to confirm its authenticity.
Lawrence Bishnoi has previously issued threats against Bollywood star Salman Khan and was also responsible for an earlier shooting near Khan’s residence.
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