MUMBAI: The motive behind the killing of former MLA and Minister of Maharashtra Ziauddin ‘Baba’ Siddique remains elusive despite the arrest of two shooters, and an Akola resident who allegedly registered the shooter. One of the killers, Gurnail Singhwho has three cases in Haryana including one for murder, has allegedly established links with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in Kaithal prison there. He got bail 3-4 months ago and moved to Mumbai.
Siddique is close to actor Salman Khan, who has been threatened and targeted on several occasions by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his henchmen for their alleged involvement in the 1998 blackbuck murder case. Police are also investigating whether the killing was a result of a dispute over a rehabilitation project a high-rise slum (SRA) in Bandra, where Siddique was accused of disorderly conduct. Social media posts linking the murder to Gang business He said the politician was targeted because of his links with Salman and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
The two shooters -Dharmaraj Kashyap who has been arrested, and Shivkumar Gautam, who is on the run – were neighbors in a village in UP’s Bahraich district and had no criminal record. Singh and Kashyap are believed to have conducted a recce at Siddique’s Bandra residence and his son’s office in Nirmal Nagar before the attack. Police have seized two Glock automatic pistols and four magazines containing at least 28 bullets from the duo, giving strong advice from their handlers.
Bishnoi allegedly paid the three shooters Rs 50,000 up front and promised Rs 2 lakh more to each of them after the killings. A police source said that the accused were in the city since the first week of September “They live in a rented room in Kurla,” said the official. “The accused received money for expenses, including rent of Rs 14,000 per month.”
Besides arms and ammunition, one pistol magazine, four mobile phones, two Aadhaar cards and a bag were seized from the arrested accused. Kashyap and Singh have been booked for murder and attempted murder under the BNS as well as the Arms Act. He was brought to the Esplanade court on Sunday amid tight security. The court sent Singh in police custody till October 21, and asked the police to conduct an ossification test on Kashyap to determine his exact age after he claimed to be 17 years old.
When the judge asked for documents proving Kashyap’s age, public prosecutor Gautam Gaikwad referred to the seized Aadhaar card that said he was 21. The client was ready to undergo an ossification test.
However, the police are still investigating the motive, especially since Bishnoi delayed claiming responsibility for the killing on social media for more than 15 hours. This delay, along with the lack of adequate knowledge about the accused, has raised doubts whether the gang link is a red herring. “The two arrested accused have very little information. Our team is trying to nab Gautam, who can reveal details of the operation. We are also not following SRA’s angle, as Bishnoi’s link could be a diversion,” police said. official.
Joint commissioner of police (law & order) Satyanarayan Choudhary confirmed that Siddique had not lodged a complaint of threats, rubbishing rumors that his security cover had recently been extended to Y-plus. However, the fact that the killers have bypassed police security has raised concerns. When asked about the security provided to Siddique, a senior police official said that he has uncategorized security.
“A team of 15 city crime branches is working on the case,” said Datta Nalawade, DCP (Crime). Several police teams were sent outside Maharashtra for investigation. When asked if there was SRA, business rival or the involvement of Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang in the murder, Nalwade said, “We are looking into all angles.”
When asked if it was the work of the Bishnoi gang, another police source said they were investigating. “We want to be sure,” he said, adding, “the arrested accused portrayed themselves as innocent and blamed the accused (Gautam) who fled the scene”.
A Mumbai Police team conducted raids in Ujjain district and Omkareshwar town in Khandwa district of MP in connection with the murder. Ujjain SP Pradeep Sharma said, “The team has been in Ujjain since Sunday morning and is cooperating with the local crime branch. While the Mumbai Police has not revealed Ujjain’s specific connection to the case, search efforts are focused on dharamshalas and religious sites due to the high number of visitors from various -various areas.”
