The shocking details behind the assassination of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique have emerged, revealing a meticulously planned plot orchestrated over 100 kilometers away in Pune. On October 12, Siddique was shot dead outside his son’s office in Mumbai by three shooters identified as Gurmel Baljit Singh, Dharmaraj Kashyap, and Shivkumar Gautam, all hailing from Uttar Pradesh.
According to police investigations, the shooters were provided with ₹50,000 as an advance, along with a photograph of Siddique and a flex banner to assist them in identifying their target. The gruesome act was reportedly hatched during multiple meetings in Pune months before the attack.
The Mumbai Police have arrested Gurmel and Dharmaraj, while Shivkumar Gautam remains at large. A significant breakthrough in the case occurred with the arrest of Pravin Lonkar, an alleged co-conspirator. Investigators are probing the role of Lonkar and his brother, Shubham, who are believed to have financed the shooters and coordinated the logistics for the assassination.
Police sources revealed that the accused claimed affiliations with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, currently incarcerated at Sabarmati jail. Bishnoi was also implicated in a recent shooting incident involving Bollywood actor Salman Khan, a close friend of Baba Siddique.
The Lonkar brothers are central figures in the conspiracy, with Pravin allegedly drafting the shooters and orchestrating their recruitment. The trio purchased a motorcycle to monitor Siddique’s daily routine, allowing them to plan the attack more effectively. Each shooter received an advance payment of ₹50,000, with promises of additional compensation upon successful execution of the plot.
The police noted that Gautam was responsible for firing the shots at Siddique, while Kashyap and Gurmel provided support during the attack. Kashyap was also reported to have used pepper spray on Siddique following the shooting.
In a troubling twist, Shubham Lonkar had previously posted on Facebook attributing the attack to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, a post that has since been deleted but is still circulating online. Police are currently collaborating with social media platforms to track down the origins of this post.
Authorities have recovered two pistols, 28 live rounds, and four mobile phones from the suspects, which are under analysis to gather more insights into the conspiracy. The investigation is ongoing, with police focusing on identifying additional individuals connected to the Lonkar brothers and exploring all possible angles, including further links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Sources By Agencies