The Crime Branch of Mumbai Police has made two additional arrests in connection with the murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to 18. On Thursday, the police apprehended Aditya Gudankar and Rafiq Shaikh, both from Pune, Maharashtra. The duo was presented before the Esplanade Court and has been remanded to police custody until November 13.
Baba Siddique, a prominent NCP leader, was shot dead on October 12 outside his son Zeeshan’s office in Bandra East, Mumbai. He succumbed to injuries sustained from two gunshot wounds after the incident. Hours later, jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang took responsibility for the murder, and investigation suggested that Anmol Bishnoi, Lawrence’s brother, was the mastermind behind the attack.
The latest arrests follow the detention of Gaurav Vilas Apune, another suspect in the case, who was apprehended in Pune on Wednesday. According to police, Apune had met with other conspirators to plan the assassination and was in contact with the shooters involved in the crime. During the investigation, police also recovered weapons used in the murder from the residences of suspects Rupesh Mohol and Ram Fulchand Kanoujia. Mobile phone records of the shooters revealed images of pistols, further linking them to the murder.
In a worrying development, an eye-witness to the murder was reportedly threatened by an unknown caller demanding ₹5 crore in exchange for not carrying out further harm. The witness filed a police complaint at Khar Police Station, adding another layer to the ongoing investigation.
Authorities have expressed their determination to bring all those responsible for the murder to justice. With the involvement of gangsters and the detailed planning behind the attack, the case has raised significant concerns about criminal activity and political rivalries.
The investigation is ongoing, and the Mumbai Crime Branch continues to gather evidence and question suspects as they work towards unravelling the full scope of the crime.
Sources By Agencies