Mumbai police have arrested a 28-year-old man from Pune, identified as Pravin Lonkar, in connection with the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique.
Authorities described Lonkar as a "co-conspirator" and confirmed that a manhunt is underway for his brother, Shubham Lonkar, who is also implicated in the crime. This marks the third arrest in the high-profile case.
Baba Siddique, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was shot dead outside the Bandra office of his son, Zeeshan Siddique, on Saturday night.
Three assailants attacked the 66-year-old former minister at Kher Nagar, just as he was leaving the building. He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital but was declared dead upon arrival, according to police officials.
According to the crime branch, the Lonkar brothers are suspected of enlisting two of the alleged shooters involved in Siddique's assassination – Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, and Shivkumar Gautam.
While Gautam remains at large, the police have apprehended Kashyap and another alleged shooter, Gurmail Baljit Singh, a 23-year-old from Haryana.
Following Pravin Lonkar's arrest, police intensified their search for his brother, Shubham. Officers had initially raided a location in Pune to apprehend Shubham but found only Pravin, whom they immediately detained for his suspected role in orchestrating the attack.
The two apprehended shooters were produced in court over the weekend. Gurmail Baljit Singh was remanded in police custody until 21st October, while Kashyap, who had claimed to be a minor, was ordered to undergo a bone ossification test to determine his age.
The test confirmed that Kashyap is an adult, and he has since been remanded in custody alongside Singh.
Police have recovered two firearms and 28 live rounds from the suspects. Investigators have formed 15 teams to track down the remaining perpetrators and to uncover any logistical support provided to the attackers.
Authorities are also verifying a social media post reportedly made by a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which claims responsibility for Siddique’s murder.
As the investigation continues, the crime branch is exploring several possible motives, including contract killing, business or political rivalry, and disputes surrounding a slum rehabilitation project that Siddique was involved in.
The murder has sent shockwaves through the political community. Baba Siddique, who had recently aligned himself with Ajit Pawar's faction of the NCP after a long tenure with the Congress, was a prominent figure in Mumbai politics.
He represented Bandra West in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1999, 2004, and 2009.
Siddique had earned widespread praise for his humanitarian efforts, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when he supplied life-saving medicines to those in need.
He was also well-known for his annual Iftar parties, which attracted Bollywood A-listers, including Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Sanjay Dutt.
On Sunday, a large crowd gathered to pay their respects as Siddique was laid to rest with full state honours at Bada Kabrastan in Marine Lines, amidst tight security.
Despite the rain, Mumbai police provided a guard of honour for the late leader, a testament to his long-standing influence in both political and social circles.
Investigations into Siddique’s murder are ongoing, and the police remain focused on identifying further conspirators and motives behind the crime.
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