The streets of Bandra were bustling as usual on the afternoon of October 12, but outside Baba Siddique’s office, chaos erupted. The prominent NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister had just stepped out when three men approached him. In a matter of seconds, gunfire shattered the calm. Multiple shots were fired, hitting Siddique, who collapsed as blood stained the pavement. The assailants fled, leaving behind a scene of horror. Despite being rushed to the hospital, it was too late—Baba Siddique was pronounced dead upon arrival, his body riddled with gunshot wounds.
News of his assassination spread like wildfire, shaking Mumbai’s political circles to their core. Siddique, a figure deeply entrenched in Maharashtra’s political landscape, had been a target. The brutality of his murder left many questioning who could have orchestrated such a bold attack in broad daylight.
It didn’t take long for the investigation to zero in on a chilling conspiracy. The three men responsible for Siddique’s murder weren’t ordinary criminals. They were linked to the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang, a group known for its organized crime operations. As the police delved deeper, they discovered that Siddique had been under surveillance for months. His killers had been hired specifically for the hit.
Among the suspects arrested was 19-year-old Dharmaraj Kashyap. His involvement brought its own drama to the case. Kashyap’s lawyer initially argued that he was only 17 years old, a minor who could not be held accountable as an adult. However, discrepancies between his claim and his Aadhaar card prompted the court to order an ossification test to determine his age. When the results confirmed that Kashyap was, in fact, 19, the defense’s argument crumbled. The court swiftly remanded him into police custody until October 21.
Kashyap wasn’t the only one taken into custody. Another accused, 23-year-old Gurmail Baljit Singh, was arrested alongside him. However, one man remained elusive—Shivkumar Gautam, the third suspect, was still on the run, leaving the police in pursuit as the investigation pressed on.
As the case unraveled, the connections to organized crime grew more apparent. The assassination of Baba Siddique wasn’t just about political rivalry; it was linked to the dangerous world of gangsters and hitmen. This prompted Mumbai’s law enforcement to bolster security, particularly outside the residence of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. The Bishnoi gang had made threats before, and with their name surfacing in this high-profile murder, the police weren’t taking any chances.
The assassination sent shockwaves beyond the crime scene. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde addressed the public, assuring them that swift and stern action would be taken against all involved, regardless of their affiliations. Siddique’s death had become a symbol of the growing lawlessness in certain circles of power, sparking fears about the influence of organized crime in the city’s politics.
As the days passed, more arrests were expected, and the motives behind the murder became a focal point. The killing of Baba Siddique was not just another violent crime in Mumbai; it was part of a larger narrative, one that was still unfolding as the investigation continued to reveal the darker underbelly of power, politics, and crime in the city.
