• By Nidhi Giri
  • Sun, 13 Oct 2024 09:53 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Mumbai Police on Sunday arrested the third accused involved in the high-profile murder of former Mumbai MLA and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique. The accused has been identified as 28-year-old Pravin Lonkar who was apprehended from Pune. He is believed to be one of the key conspirators who enlisted Dharmaraj Kashyap and Shivkumar Gautam, the absconding shooter in the plot. In another major development, links to the murder case have surfaced in Jalandhar. Reports indicate that the fourth accused, identified as Mohammad Zeeshan Akhtar, is a resident of Shakar village in Nakodar, Punjab. According to police, Akhtar was arrested by Jalandhar Rural Police in 2022 for organized crime, murder, and robbery. It is believed that Akhtar was directing the three shooters from outside. He provided them with information about Siddique's location at the time of the shooting, and he also assisted with logistical support, including arranging rental rooms.

The murder was carried out by three shooters, one of whom, Gurmel Singh, hails from the village of Narad in Haryana's Kaithal district. The other two shooters are from Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh. Gurmel and another shooter, Dharmaraj Kashyap, have already been arrested. The third shooter, Shivkumar, remains at large.

Baba Siddique Murder Case: Latest Updates

-Mumbai’s Esplanade Court on Sunday asked for an ossification test of the accused, Dharmaraj Kashyap, as his lawyer claimed that he was a minor. The test was conducted and it was proved that he was not a minor. He was produced in the court and sent to police custody till October 21, Mumbai Police said. An ossification test is a medical procedure that estimates a person’s age by analyzing the degree of fusion of their bones. It’s a popular method for determining age.

READ MORE: 'Stopped Talking To Me...': Mother Of Accused In Baba Siddique Murder Case Expresses Sense Of Betrayal

-State honour was accorded to Baba Siddique during his last rites at Bada Qabrastan, in Mumbai lines on Sunday evening. His mortal remains were then taken for burial.

-Before the last rites, Namaz-e-janaza was offered outside the residence of Baba Siddique, in Bandra on Sunday.

-Precisely 80 days before allegedly assassinating Baba Siddique, Shivkumar Gautam had been flaunting his self-proclaimed 'Gangster' status on various social media platforms. His Instagram post read, 'Yaar tera gangster hai jaani'. 

-A Mumbai Police team travelled to Madhya Pradesh on Sunday. The police are collaborating with Madhya Pradesh authorities to locate the suspect who may be hiding in MP. Searches are ongoing in the Ujjain and Omkareshwar (in Khandwa district) of Madhya Pradesh.

READ MORE: Baba Siddique’s Murder In Mumbai Sparks Mahayuti vs MVA Debate Ahead Of Maharashtra Polls

-Accused Gurmel Singh was sent to seven-day police custody till October 21. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch, who is probing the case sought the remand of the accused duo for 14 days, saying they needed to investigate if there was any international link involved.

-Mumbai Police Crime Branch DCP Datta Nalawade said that it is probing all angles in connection with the Baba Siddique murder case and said the angles of Lawrence Bishnoi and Salman Khan along with other angles are also being probed. They were also verifying a social media post in which an alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has taken responsibility for the murder, police said.

-The police said that they have recovered two pistols from both the accused. The accused had brought pepper spray, first, the accused were supposed to spray and then they were to fire but the third accused Shivkumar Gautam started firing directly. Three constables were with Baba Siddiqui and at the time of the incident but they could not do anything. One more person has been injured in this firing.

-The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for the killing of Baba Siddique, putting an end to speculation about the culprits. In a Facebook post, the gang stated that Siddique was targeted for supporting Salman Khan, who has been facing threats from the group for years. Siddique was killed after being shot at by three attackers on Saturday night. He served as a three-time MLA from Bandra (East) and was also a former minister in the Maharashtra government.