Baba Siddique
In the ongoing investigation of the Baba Siddique murder case, Mumbai police on Saturday have revealed that 5 recently arrested suspects initially demanded ₹50 lakh for the killing but later withdrew from the plan due to disputes over payment and concerns about Siddique’s influential status.
Despite backing out, these individuals provided logistical support to the shooters involved in the assassination.
The city police’s crime branch arrested the 5 accused, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to nine.
3 key suspects remain at large. The arrested individuals are Nitin Gautam Sapre (32), Sambhaji Kisan Pardhi (44), Pradeep Dattu Thombre (37), Chetan Dilip Pardhi (27), and Ram Fulchand Kanoujia (43). Sapre hails from Dombivli, while the others are from Ambernath in Thane district, and Kanoujia is a resident of Panvel in Raigad.
During their interrogation, police learned that the module led by Sapre had negotiated a ₹50 lakh fee with a mediator for the assassination of NCP leader Baba Siddique. However, disagreements over the contract led them to abandon the plan.
An official stated that Sapre recognized the significant risks associated with targeting a high-profile politician like Siddique and opted not to proceed with the assassination.
Nevertheless, the group decided to assist the new shooters and provide logistical support.
Investigators have determined that Sapre’s module maintained contact with conspirator Shubham Lonkar and mastermind Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar leading up to the shooting.
Authorities are now probing whether Shubham and Akhtar approached them with the proposal through the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Prior to this, police arrested four other suspects, including Gurmail Baljit Singh (23) and Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap (19), who are believed to be the shooters. Also apprehended were Harishkumar Balakram Nisad (23) and Pravin Lonkar, brother of co-conspirator Shubham Lonkar, who is from Pune.
Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister, was tragically shot dead on the night of October 12 outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Mumbai’s upscale Bandra.
The main shooter, Shivkumar Gautam, along with Shubham Lonkar and Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar, are currently evading capture. The police have issued a look-out circular (LOC) for these individuals as the investigation continues.
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