3 shooters, 6 shots fired, 2 hits Baba Siddique: How the former Maharashtra minister was shot dead

Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was shot dead in Mumbai’s Bandra East district on Saturday in a targeted attack by three assailants who fired six shots at him.

The incident took place around 9:30 pm outside his son Zeeshan Siddiqui’s office where the attackers got out of their car with their faces covered and opened fire. Two of the bullets hit Siddique in the chest. Though he was admitted to Lilavati Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries soon after his arrival.

Recce Of Siddique and his family

According to a source, a 9.9mm pistol was used in the shooting, suggesting a contract killing. In addition to the three shooters, there was another person involved who passed on information to the attackers. It is also reported that the shooters were associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and had conducted reconnaissance work before the shooting. Sources said gunmen also monitored the movement of Zeeshan Siddique and other family members.

Baba Siddique suffered “2 bullet wounds”

The politician, who made a major shift in February this year by ending his four-decade-long ties with the Congress and joining the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, had received a death threat just 15 days ago and was in ‘Y’ security category. . . Doctors at Lilavati Hospital, where NCP chief Baba Siddique was admitted after he was shot, have confirmed that the 66-year-old politician succumbed to his injuries at 11:27 pm and suffered “two bullet wounds”.

Dr. Nitin Gokhale, cardiologist at Leelavti Hospital, said, “Baba Siddique Saheb was brought to Leelavti Hospital at 9:30 pm without any pulse and blood pressure disturbance. He had two gunshot wounds to his chest. We started with the emergency and recitative measures. He was transferred to the intensive care unit. He was pronounced dead at 11:27 p.m. The number of bullets fired will be certain after the post-mortem.”

2 suspects arrested, 5 teams formed to investigate

Police authorities confirmed that two suspects were arrested immediately after the incident. Gurmail Baljit Singh, 23, from Haryana, and Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap, 19, from UP, were identified as the two suspects nabbed by the police. Police have formed five teams to investigate the murder case. Sources within the Mumbai Police said that they will also look into the Bishnoi angle as part of the investigation.

A case was registered at Nirmal Nagar police station under Crime Registration Number 589/2024, Sections 103(1), 109, 125 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3, 25. 5 and 27 of the Arms Act and Section 37 and Section 137 of the Maharashtra Police Act.

What did the Maharashtra government say?

The shooting occurred during Dussehra and came ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, which are expected to take place later this year. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said two people had been arrested in connection with the case and promised that the state government would ensure that the case was tried in a fast-track court.

“This is an extremely regrettable incident and I have spoken to the doctors and police. Two people were arrested and the accused are from UP and Haryana. The third defendant is absconding. We have given instructions to Mumbai Police that strict action should be taken against those who take law and order into their hands…I am sure Mumbai Police will soon arrest the third accused…We will take this case to fast track court bring…” he said during a press conference.

The former MLA was known not only for his political acumen but also for throwing lavish Bollywood parties. A cold war between Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan was settled at an Iftaar party hosted by him in 2013.