Baba Siddique Murder Live Updates: Cops confirm gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s involvement in killing; former Maharashtra minister to get state funeral

NCP Leader Baba Siddique shot dead: The firing occurred outside the office of his MLA son, Zeeshan Siddique, near Colgate Ground in Nirmal Nagar, the official said. Two persons have been detained by Mumbai Police

NCP Leader and Ex-Maharashtra Minister Shot Dead: Mumbai police have confirmed the involvement of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in the killing of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and three-time MLA Baba Siddique on Saturday night. Despite Y-level category security, Siddique was shot dead by three assailants — two of whom have been detained — ahead of the Assembly elections which are expected to be held in November. Meanwhile, CM Eknath Shinde has said Siddique will receive a state funeral as he has served as a minister in the Maharashtra Cabinet from 2004 to 2008.

Political storm in Maharashtra: Condemning the incident, leaders across Opposition parties, including the Congress, have sought accountability from the Shinde-led government for “growing criminal activities” in the state. Many leaders, including Sharad Pawar, have demanded the resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police have identified and detained two individuals — one from Haryana and the other from Uttar Pradesh — in connection with the incident so far. While the third person is said to be absconding, the case has been handed over to the Mumbai crime branch.

Where did the shooting occur? The incident took place as Siddique was leaving his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Bandra East and was entering his car.  According to the police, the assailants fired around six to seven rounds at him of which two bullets hit him in the chest, and one hit him in the abdomen.  He sustained multiple serious injuries and was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he was pronounced dead during treatment. Siddique was elected as a Congress MLA thrice and represented the Bandra West constituency from 1999 until 2014

Live Updates
11:28 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Lawrence Bishnoi gang has not been involved with any murders in Mumbai till last night's killing

Though the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has been in the news for threatening and firing outside actor Salman Khan’s Bandra residence in April, it had not been involved in killings in the city until Siddique’s murder on Saturday night.

The gang has been involved in extortion killings in north Indian states, including the murder of a gym owner last month in Delhi.

Jailed gangster Bishnoi is known to hire youngsters from north Indian states through social media platforms to carry out hit jobs.

11:21 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Here's what we know about the 2 accused detained so far

Two of the three accused detained have been identified as Gurmail Baljit Singh, resident of Haryana, and Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap from native of Uttar Pradesh, as per the police.

As of now, the police has got no criminal track record of Gurmail Singh, but the officials say they were yet verifying his antecedents and getting more details about Gurmail Singh and his family. Rajesh Kalia, SP (Kaithal) told The Indian Express, "We are getting more details about Gurmail Singh. As of now, we have learnt that there is not much about his criminal background, but we are ascertaining details. So far, nobody from Mumbai police has got in touch directly with me, but they might be in touch with the Haryana STF. Gurmail Singh is a resident of Narhar village of Kaithal, but we learnt that he had moved to Mumbai long ago. We are still in the process of getting more details about him".

11:12 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Siddique to receive state funeral by Maharashtra government

Chief minister Eknath Shinde has given the order of state funeral to NCP leader Baba Siddiqui since he was former minister in the government from 2004-2008. Siddique served as the Maharashtra Minister of State for Food & Civil Supplies, Labour, FDA, and Consumer Protection in the Congress-NCP government.

11:10 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: 'Most unsuccessful home minister of the state', Shiv Sena UBT's Sanjay Raut hits out at Fadnavis

"This is the most unsuccessful home minister of the state. Devendra Fadnavis was a good administrator once upon a time but now he has lost everything... Last night's incident was horrible," said Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut in a press briefing this morning. He also demanded Fadnavis's resignation.

"The state cadre level of police officers have been appointed in Mumbai which are actually strictly for the IPS officers. They (state cadre officers) are appointed in Mumbai just because they have proximity with the CM(Shinde). There is an interference of Shinde in the home ministry and hence the HM (Fadnavis) should not be in this position. He (Shinde) is running the government as if he is running a syndicate of goons. The CM is using all these police officers but these police officers should know that when we will come to power, all the accounts will be settled," Raut added.

10:37 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: After confirmation of Lawrence Bishnoi involvement, Haryana police reacts

A senior officer of Haryana police told The Indian Express that they have not received a formal communication from the Maharashtra police as of now. The officer also said: “We will definitely help the Maharashtra police in every way, we will receive a formal request from them. Meanwhile, we will inquire into the matter on the basis of the media reports.”

Sources in the Haryana police say that the senior police officers and state’s intelligence agency-CID- has been alerted after the media reports suggested connection of the accused from the state.

10:34 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Security tightened outside Salman Khan's residence in Bandra

A day after NCP leader Baba Siddique was shot dead in Bandra, security has been enhanced outside Galaxy apartments, the residence of actor Salman Khan who stays in the same suburbs.

Siddique and Salman Khan were known to be close friends and the killing of the former Maharashtra minister took place six months after Lawrence Bishnoi gang members fired shots at Khan's home in Mumbai.

10:27 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: NCP leader had Y-level security, what does it mean?

Baba Siddique who was shot dead on Saturday night had Y-level category security when the three assailants fired 6-7 rounds at him.

In Y+ category, there are two policemen (plus four on rotation) for mobile security, and one (plus four on rotation) for residence security;

In the case of states (like Maharashtra with regard to Baba Siddique), it is the state government which decides the level of security protection an individual needs.

Protection is generally given to someone who holds a position of consequence either in the government or in civil society — hence the informal description “VIP security”. High government officials are protected automatically by reason of the positions they hold.

There are mainly six categories of security cover: X, Y, Y+, Z, Z+, and SPG (Special Protection Group).

10:14 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: 'Unfortunate that opposition parties are trying to politicise this incident,' says BJP spokesperson

"The murder of Baba Siddique ji is tragic. He was a prominent leader, and there should be no politics over this. Within 24 hours, two accused have already been arrested. CM Eknath Shinde ji himself is closely monitoring the investigation. Even Devendra Fadnavis ji has given a statement that no accused will be spared. It's unfortunate that opposition parties are trying to politicise this incident. I want to tell the opposition that this is an NDA government, and no accused will go unpunished," BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said on NCP leader Baba Siddique's killing.

09:53 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Who all were at Lilavati Hospital after the killing last night?

Siddiqui, 66, who was taken to Mumbai's Lilavati hospital after being shot at was pronounced dead at around 11:25 pm on Saturday night.

Sanjay Dutt was seen exiting the hospital, and soon after, Shilpa Shetty and her husband, Raj Kundra, arrived to pay their last respects to Baba Siddique. Salman Khan and Zaheer Iqbal also made their way to the hospital.

09:42 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Rahul Gandhi reacts to NCP leader's killing

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, calling for accountability from the ruling government. Taking to X, he stated “This horrifying incident exposes the complete collapse of law and order in Maharashtra. The government must take responsibility, and justice must prevail.

09:37 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Here's what happened on Saturday night in Bandra East

- NCP leader and three-time MLA Baba Siddique was coming out of his son and Bandra East MLA Zeeshan Siddique's office and walking to his car when three assailants fired 6-7 rounds at him.

- Two bullets hit him in the chest, and one hit him in the abdomen.

- The 66-year-old leader sustained multiple serious injuries and was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he was pronounced dead during treatment.

- The shooting occurred on a day when the city police were on high alert due to two annual Dussehra rallies held by the Shiv Sena.

09:28 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: The Lawrence Bishnoi-Salman Khan-Baba Siddique links

Lawrence Bishnoi gang made news earlier in April when two unidentified people fired more than four shots outside Galaxy Apartments, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s home in Bandra, Mumbai. The gang claimed responsibility for the attack.

Now, an IPS officer with the Mumbai Police said, “While Bishnoi claims that he is upset with the actor for shooting a blackbuck, we think he is trying to make a name for himself by targeting Salman Khan. So the instruction to the two men who fired outside the actor’s house was only to create a scare, not to kill.”

The shooting of Baba Siddique come six months after this incident and Salman is said to be a very close friend of the late NCP leader.

09:24 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Why Lawrence Bishnoi connection is being made by Mumbai Police?

Over the last few years in particular, several officers from central agencies and the Mumbai police told The Indian Express that the Bishnoi gang was a “new headache”, a “new beast”. But why?

Lawrence Bishnoi is a prime accused in the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and is currently lodged in Gujarat’s Sabarmati prison.

The Bishnoi gang, which has so far been active mainly in the northern states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and (western) UP, is attempting to step into Mumbai circles

For the police, used to the ways of the city’s underworld gangs who are not known to carry out any such acts without the promised amount in hand, the Bishnoi gang’s approach was markedly different.

09:15 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: NCP cancels all party programmes scheduled for today

"Keeping in view the tragic death of our party colleague Shri. Baba Siddique, all party programs for 13th October, 2024 i.e. Sunday stand cancelled," the party said on X after the shooting incident

09:06 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: 5 firings in Mumbai city in the past year alone

The killing of Baba Siddique has raised questions about the law-and-order situation in the city.

While five firings have taken place in Mumbai city in the past year, one major attack had happened in Thane when a BJP MLA shot at a Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) party worker inside a police station.

On April 14 this year, henchmen from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang had fired outside the Bandra residence of actor Salman Khan, with a few bullets even ending up inside his house. The attack came despite the Bollywood actor having high security near his residence.

09:01 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: MLA son Zeeshan Siddique denying permission for postmortem

NCP leader Baba Siddique's body was shifted from Lilavati Hospital to Cooper Hospital early this morning to conduct the post-mortem examination.

However, as per latest information received from the police, his son and Bandra East MLA Zeeshan Siddique is not allowing for the postmortem to be conducted until there is clarity on the motive.

08:56 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Lawrence Bishnoi's involvement confirmed by police

Mumbai police have confirmed the involvement of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in the killing of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and three-time MLA Baba Siddique on Saturday night.

Lawrence Bishnoi is also the alleged mastermind in Sidhu Moosewala’s murder and the firing at Salman Khan’s Mumbai home, among other several high-profile murder and extortion cases.

08:32 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Baramati MP Supriya Sule terms the murder unacceptable

“Shocking news! Baba Siddique is no more. Reportedly he was shot dead. This is absolutely unacceptable, when a member of the ruling govt alliance is unsafe & killed in his own son’s office that too in Mumbai, it speaks volumes about the law and order state in Maharashtra,” Supriya Sule said.

08:25 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: 'Tragic demise shocking beyond words,' says Mallikarjun Kharge

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, in a post on X, offered his condolences and said that “the tragic demise of the former Maharashtra minister was shocking beyond words”. He further urged the state government to take an action against the act stating, “Justice must be ensured, and the present Maharashtra Govt must order a thorough and transparent investigation. The culprits must be brought to book at the earliest. Accountability is paramount.”

08:19 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: This is what Leader of Opposition said after the shooting last night

Calling the incident "unfortunate", Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar said: “It is unfortunate that former minister Baba Siddique was shot dead despite giving Y-level security. We have been warning about the growing criminal activities in Mumbai but those were not taken seriously. Mumbai was silent but such incidents are growing. This government has been supporting criminals and we demand that a detailed probe should be conducted.”

He demanded a detailed probe into the incident. The Mumbai Crime Branch has taken over the investigation from the Mumbai police last night after two of the three assailants were detained.

08:14 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Sharad Pawar reacts, says 'collapsed law and order'

Former chief minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, calling for accountability from the ruling government.

In a post on X, he wrote: “If the Home Minister and the rulers are going to push the cart of the state so mildly, it can be an alarm bell for the common people. There is a need not only to investigate this, but also to accept the responsibility and step down from the position of the rulers.”

08:06 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Shooting comes 6 months after shots being fired at Salman Khan's house

Baba Siddique had Y-level category security assigned to him.

The shooting on Saturday night took place exactly six months after shots were fired at the house of Salman Khan, a close friend of Siddiquie. The two incidents occurred in the same suburb of Bandra.

On April 14 morning, four rounds were fired outside the actor’s Bandra residence. The crime branch later arrested six people from different states. According to the probe by the crime branch, the attack was carried out at the behest of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi who had threatened actor Salman Khan in the past as well.

07:59 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Siddique was also known for his extravagant, star-studded iftar parties

Away from politics, Siddiqui’s claim to fame were his extravagant iftar parties. He was also known to be a very closer friend of Bollywood star Salman Khan.

One of the most famous moment from one such gathering hosyed by Siddique involves Salman and Shah Rukh Khan in 2013. It is believed to have marked the beginning of the end of a long-lasting feud between them.

As food, laughter and camaraderie flowed, the two actors were spotted having a warm conversation and hugging. Spotted in the middle, basking in the glory of a Bollywood moment that would go down in history, was Baba Siddiqui.

07:57 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Why did Siddique join Ajit Pawar-led NCP?

In February this year, ending his 48-year association with the Congress, Siddique left the Congress party to join the Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

This came after his fallout with the grand old party when Siddique was also believed to have seriously considered shifting his political base to Bihar, where his family had roots, at one point.

According to Congress sources, he even sought a Rajya Sabha seat from RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, but it was an unsuccessful move. So Shiv Sena and the NCP split up, Siddiqui finally saw an opportunity to revive his political career.

07:48 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Why did Siddique have a fall out with the Congress

From 2004 to 2008, Baba Siddique served as the Maharashtra Minister of State for Food & Civil Supplies, Labour, FDA, and Consumer Protection in the Congress-NCP government.

He was known as the Congress party’s Muslim face, but faced a significant political setback after losing the 2014 elections to the BJP’s Ashish Shelar.

Later, Siddiqui had a fallout with the Congress due to its decision to ally with the Shiv Sena and form the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

07:40 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
NCP Leader Baba Siddique Shot Dead Live: Body shifted to Mumbai's Cooper Hospital for postmortem

The latest development early this morning is that the Mumbai Police have shifted the body of NCP leader Baba Siddique who was shot dead in Bandra East on Saturday night, from Lilavati Hospital to Cooper Hospital. Here doctors are expected to conduct the post-mortem examination.

Where did the shooting occur?

On Saturday night, six to seven rounds were fired at Siddique as he was leaving his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Bandra East and was entering his car. According to the police, two bullets hit him in the chest, and one hit him in the abdomen.  He sustained multiple serious injuries and was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he was pronounced dead during treatment.

07:35 (IST) 13 Oct 2024
Good morning!

Welcome to the live blog

NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, 66, was shot dead in Bandra East late Saturday. This has kicked up a political storm in the state given that the incident occurred ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls likely to be held next month. Two of the three assailants have been detained and are being questioned by the Mumbai Crime Branch which took over the probe from the police late last night. The third person is said to be absconding

Beyond questions over the state of law and order in Maharashtra, the shooting of Siddique despite him having Y-level security is being questioned for it has occurred six months after shots were fired at the house of Salman Khan, a close friend of Siddiqui. The two incidents occurred in the same suburb of Bandra.

We track all developments of this case -- Stay tuned.

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