The conspiracy to kill NCP Ajit group leader Baba Siddiqui was hatched 3 months ago. Accused also went to Baba's house many times without weapons. The Mumbai Crime Branch disclosed this on Tuesday night. According to the police, the entire planning was done in Pune. Shooters Gurmel Singh and Dharamraj Kashyap learned shooting by watching videos on YouTube. These people used to practice shooting in Mumbai without magazines.
Baba was shot dead on the night of October 12. He was in his son Jeeshan's office in Bandra. As soon as he came out, six bullets were fired at him. After the incident, police arrested three accused. The fourth accused, Harish Balkaram, was arrested on October 15 from Bahraich. 3 are still absconding. Lawrence Bishnoi's gang has claimed responsibility for the murder. The Mumbai Crime Branch has so far recorded the statements of more than 15 people, including many eyewitnesses who were present at the time of the incident.
3 explanations of Mumbai Police…
- Harish Balkaram, the fourth accused arrested on October 15, was the middleman. Arrested accused Praveen and Shubham Lonkar (absconding) gave Rs 2 lakh to arrested shooters Gurmel Singh and Dharmaraj Kashyap. This money was channeled through Harish. Harish is the cousin of Praveen and Shubham.
- Two mobile phones were also given to the shooters who have been living in Pune for the past 9 years. The accused used Snapchat app for chatting and Instagram for making calls.
- To identify Baba Siddiqui, the accused were given Baba's photograph and told that he was the target. Reiki of house and office was also done 25 days before the incident.
Who are the 4 accused arrested so far?
- Harishkumar Balkaram Nisad: A resident of Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh. Worked as a scrap dealer in Varje area of Pune.
- Gurmail Baljit Singh: He is a resident of Kaithal, Haryana. He is guilty of murdering his brother's friend. After being released on bail, he reached Mumbai on the phone of Sagaritos of Lawrence. No contact from home for 6 months.
- Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap: A resident of Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh. When caught, he declared himself a minor. He was caught lying in the bone test.
- Praveen Lonkar: Runs a dairy in Varje, Pune with brother Shubham. Praveen recruited two of the three shooters. It was he who arranged for Gautham and Dharmaraj to rent a room and a bike in Kurla.
Shubham, the absconding accused in the firing case at Salman's house, has been caught Shubham (Shubbu) Lonkar, who claimed responsibility for Siddiqui's murder, was also questioned in the actor Salman Khan case. In April 2024, bullets were fired at Salman Khan's house. In this case, the police detained Shubham Lonkar and interrogated him. But the police had to release him. Because there is no evidence against him.
Shubham's family were criminals, the whole village feared his father and grandfather
A neighbor of Shubham's village told Bhaskar that, 'His father was addicted to alcohol. Due to this addiction, his lands were sold. After this the family started working as labourers. Shubham and his brother Praveen shifted to Pune 6-7 years ago when money was tight. Both ran a dairy there.
'Both brothers used to come to the village frequently. The last time Shubham came in June. Shubham has studied only upto 10th. Praveen also left his studies midway. Shubham's father used to work as a laborer in the village. They started coming to the village in expensive bikes and cars from Pune.
Baba Siddiqui: Started politics from Bandra, 3 times MLA and minister Three-time MLA Baba Siddiqui is a big face of Congress in Maharashtra. He has also been involved in many major movements. In February 2024, he joined Ajit Pawar's group NCP. Baba's son Jeeshan Siddiqui is the MLA from Bandra East.
Baba, who was once very close to Sunil Dutt, also served as the Food Minister of Maharashtra from 2004 to 2008. Their Iftar parties during Ramadan are famous. In which Bollywood celebrities were also present.
Baba Siddiqui was also involved in real estate business. He had contracts to develop two slums in Mumbai. His son Zeeshan also has several real estate companies, restaurants and properties in his name.
Police investigation angle in Baba's murder Mumbai Police has formed several teams to nab absconding accused Shivkumar Gautam, Mohammad Jeeshan Akhtar and others. The police believe that it could possibly be a case of contract killing, business or political rivalry or a murder committed against a threat to a slum rehabilitation project. Police are investigating the case from this angle.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
