A Mumbai court has confirmed that Dharmaraj Kashyap, accused in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, is an adult.
Kashyap had claimed he was a minor, but a bone ossification test proved otherwise. Kashyap, along with two others, has been remanded to judicial custody until 21 October.
Siddique, an NCP leader and former minister, was shot outside his Mumbai office. Two shooters, Kashyap and Gurmail Singh, were arrested. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility, citing a link to Salman Khan. Mumbai Police are investigating this connection and exploring multiple angles.
During the suspects' court appearance, Kashyap's lawyer argued he was a minor. However, the prosecution presented an Aadhaar card suggesting otherwise, showing his birth year as 2003. The court ordered the bone ossification test due to the absence of a birth or school-leaving certificate for verification. The test confirmed Kashyap’s age as over 18.
Police have arrested another suspect from Pune, involved in planning the murder. The investigation has revealed that Kashyap and Singh belong to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. A social media post from a gang member later claimed responsibility for the attack, mentioning Siddique’s alleged ties with Bollywood actor Salman Khan, a long-time target of the gang.
The Mumbai police have identified additional suspects. One of them, Shiv Kumar (also known as Shiva Gautam), remains at large. Another accused, Mohammad Zeeshan Akhtar, is believed to have masterminded the attack. Police continue to search for him and other individuals linked to the murder.
Siddique’s killing has raised concerns over organised crime in Mumbai. Police suspect the involvement of a criminal network and are investigating multiple motives, including business and political rivalries. Authorities are also looking into the possibility of a contract killing.
The case is currently under the Mumbai Crime Branch, which is gathering evidence to uncover the details behind Siddique’s murder. Police have heightened security measures in the city and are collaborating with intelligence agencies to prevent further incidents.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities pursuing all leads to bring those involved to justice.
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