Unraveling the Murder of Baba Siddique
Over two and a half months after the shocking murder of NCP politician Baba Siddique, police have finally pieced together the motive behind the killing. The investigation reveals that gangster Anmol Bishnoi, operating from Canada, ordered the assassination due to Siddique’s proximity to Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. The city crime branch has now ruled out the long-suspected SRA dispute in Bandra East as the reason behind the politician’s death, despite allegations from Siddique’s son, Zeeshan Siddique.
Baba Siddique was gunned down on October 12, 2023, near his son’s office in Bandra East, Mumbai. The shocking assassination had initially sparked widespread speculation about various possible motives, including the SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority) project dispute in the area, which Siddique had reportedly been involved in. However, after thorough investigation, the police have dismissed this angle.
The Real Motive: A Link to Salman Khan and the Bishnoi Gang
The breakthrough in the case came when the police discovered that Siddique’s murder was a direct retaliation linked to Salman Khan. According to investigators, the Bishnoi gang’s involvement in the crime stemmed from the 1998 black buck killing case, in which Salman Khan was accused of poaching the endangered species while filming “Hum Saath Saath Hain” in Rajasthan. The Bishnoi community, which considers the black buck sacred, has long held a grudge against Khan.
Gangster Anmol Bishnoi, whose gang is believed to have previously targeted Salman Khan’s residence in April 2023, allegedly ordered the hit on Siddique. Police investigators revealed that a post on X (formerly Twitter) from one of the suspects, Shubam Lonkar, took credit for the murder and pointed to the long-running feud involving the actor and Bishnoi gang members. The post read: “Salman Khan, we never wanted this war, but you caused harm to our brother. Today… we will surely respond, though we never attacked first.”
Dismissed SRA Dispute as a Motive
While the SRA dispute involving Sant Dnyaneshwar Nagar and Bharat Nagar slums in Bandra East initially appeared to be a possible motive, police investigations have not found any links between this issue and the murder. Siddique’s son, Zeeshan, had raised the SRA dispute in public forums, claiming that his father had been killed for defending the rights of the poor, particularly those affected by the dispute over rehabilitation projects in the area. However, after speaking to several developers and investigating the claim, the police concluded that the SRA angle did not hold water.
“We recorded statements from developers involved in the SRA projects, but no evidence was found to connect the dispute to Baba Siddique’s murder,” said a senior officer from the Mumbai crime branch. Instead, the police focused on Shubam Lonkar’s social media post, which clearly pointed to a revenge attack linked to the ongoing tensions between the Bishnoi gang and Salman Khan.
A Closer Look at the Bishnoi Gang’s Role
The Bishnoi gang has been at the center of several high-profile crimes in India, with a history of targeting individuals connected to the Salman Khan poaching case. In April 2023, the Bishnoi gang fired shots at Salman Khan’s bungalow in Mumbai, further escalating tensions between the gang and the actor. Police investigations also uncovered connections between the Bishnoi gang and several other criminal activities.
Anmol Bishnoi, who is currently believed to be hiding in Canada, is a primary suspect in the case. Police have sought his extradition to India and are working on building a case against him and his associates. Meanwhile, Shubam Lonkar—a key figure in the case—remains on the run, and police are continuing efforts to apprehend him. Zeeshan Akhtar, another suspect, is also absconding.
The Chargesheet and Legal Proceedings
The police are set to file the chargesheet in early January 2025, which will list the 26 individuals arrested in connection with the murder. Anmol Bishnoi, Shubam Lonkar, and Zeeshan Akhtar are expected to be named as absconding accused in the document. Police are hopeful that their investigation will present concrete evidence linking the Bishnoi gang to the killing, even though direct evidence involving Lawrence Bishnoi, another gangster who is currently in custody, has yet to be established.
According to sources, the chargesheet will outline how the shooters were hired by Anmol Bishnoi under the belief that Siddique was involved in the death of Anuj Thapan, a suspect in the earlier Salman Khan shooting case. Thapan died by suicide in police custody, further fueling the Bishnoi gang’s vendetta.
Conclusion: A Deadly Web of Revenge
The murder of Baba Siddique is a tragic reminder of the deep-rooted tensions within the underworld and the ongoing fallout from the Salman Khan poaching case. While the initial theories surrounding an SRA dispute have been dismissed, the involvement of the Bishnoi gang sheds light on the complex web of revenge, crime, and retaliation that continues to shape the criminal landscape in Mumbai and beyond.
As the investigation moves forward, all eyes will be on the chargesheet and the potential extradition of Anmol Bishnoi from Canada. With the legal proceedings set to unfold in early 2025, the public’s focus remains on the gang’s activities and the continued efforts to bring those responsible for Siddique’s murder to justice.