Two suspects arrested in the killing of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique have claimed affiliation with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, according to police sources.
However, the gang itself has not yet claimed responsibility. Siddique, a senior politician and former MLA from the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was shot dead in Bandra during Dussehra celebrations.
The police arrested Karnail Singh from Haryana and Dharamraj Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh. A third suspect remains on the run. The suspects confessed to monitoring the area for nearly a month before the shooting. They arrived at the scene in an auto-rickshaw and waited for Siddique to arrive.
The police are investigating two possible motives. The first involves the Bishnoi gang, considering Siddique's connections with Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who previously received threats from Lawrence Bishnoi.
Although Siddique had no history of threats from the gang, sources close to him claimed he received a death threat 15 days before his murder, leading to his placement under ‘Y’ category security.
The second angle relates to a slum rehabilitation case, which Siddique was reportedly involved in. Police suspect a fourth individual might have been providing information to the suspects.
Authorities, including the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, are in touch with central agencies to verify the suspects' claims. The Gujarat and Delhi police special cells are also investigating the case, trying to confirm the Bishnoi gang’s involvement.
Police stated that the motive is still unclear. While the suspects mentioned Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang, no direct links have been established.
The authorities are working on tracing the suspects’ movements and phone records to identify any connections with the gang or other groups.
Security has been increased in the area as investigations continue. The police are also monitoring communications from the Bishnoi gang for any statements or clues regarding their involvement in Siddique's killing.
Siddique, a three-time MLA from Bandra East, was a well-known figure in Mumbai’s political and social circles. His murder has sparked concerns about gang violence and political threats in Maharashtra, prompting authorities to intensify their investigations.
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