Baba or son Zeeshan! Either of the Siddiques was on target: Police

Baba Siddique assassination: Mumbai Police have revealed that shooters involved in the assassination of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique were given orders to target either Siddique or his son, Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddique. The police disclosed that while Zeeshan was also on the shooters' radar, his quick departure in a car outside his office led the assailants to shift their focus to Baba Siddique, whose vehicle was parked about 200 meters away.

Attack near Zeeshan Siddique's office

The Mumbai Police crime branch, investigating the high-profile murder, stated that the shooters opened fire at Baba Siddique as he walked toward a group of party workers near his son’s office in Kherwadi. The original plan allegedly included targeting Zeeshan, but circumstances changed when he got into his car right outside the office. Unable to attack Zeeshan, the shooters decided to strike Baba Siddique instead.

Social Media clues and surveillance

Investigators uncovered crucial evidence from the Snapchat account of one of the accused. Photographs of Zeeshan Siddique and details of his vehicle were found on the account. Upon interrogation, the accused revealed that they were instructed to kill either Baba Siddique or his son. “During their surveillance, they realized it would be easier to attack Baba Siddique during the 200-meter walk between his vehicle and the office,” an officer explained.

Family members later told the police that Baba Siddique preferred walking this stretch because it allowed him to engage with young party workers.

What is the motive behind the murder?

The primary motive behind the assassination appears to be linked to Lawrence Bishnoi, a notorious gangster attempting to instill fear in Mumbai to establish a base for extortion activities. According to police sources, while in the case of Bollywood actor Salman Khan the shooters only fired outside his residence, killing a prominent figure like Baba Siddique was seen as a more effective way to terrorize others into complying with extortion demands.

The police are also exploring another angle: a possible dispute connected to a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project in Bandra. Just months earlier, an FIR was registered against Zeeshan Siddique for allegedly obstructing SRA officials during a survey of the plot.

Arrests and further investigations

Thus far, nine people have been arrested in connection with the case, including two individuals who accompanied the shooter, Shivkumar Gautam, when he fired at Baba Siddique. Police have also recovered weapons used in the attack, including a Turkish-made pistol and a Glock that were sent from Rajasthan and handed to the shooters.

The authorities are actively pursuing Gautam and two others, Shubham Lonkar and Zeeshan Akhtar, who are believed to have direct links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Efforts are being made to secure Bishnoi’s custody; he is currently imprisoned in Sabarmati jail in Gujarat.

A major extortion plot uncovered

A separate report from PTI revealed that five of the accused had initially demanded ₹50 lakh for carrying out the murder. However, they later backed out, citing disagreements over the payment and concerns about Baba Siddique's political influence. These five accused individuals, all residents of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, provided logistical support to the shooters and were paid ₹5 lakh for their involvement. Four of them have prior criminal records.