A shooter linked to the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang has made explosive claims about the late Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique, alleging that he had connections with Dawood Ibrahim, one of India’s most-wanted criminals and the mastermind behind the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. The shooter, Yogesh alias Raju, who was arrested following a dramatic police encounter, asserted that Siddique “was not a good man” and hinted that his death was tied to his alleged criminal associations.
Raju, aged 26, was apprehended in Uttar Pradesh after an exchange of gunfire with a joint task force consisting of Delhi Police’s Special Cell and Mathura Police. He suffered a leg injury during the shootout and was subsequently taken to the district hospital for treatment. Following his arrest, police recovered a .32-bore pistol, ammunition, and a motorcycle from his possession.
While being escorted from the hospital, Raju spoke to reporters and made startling accusations. He claimed that Baba Siddique’s death was inevitable due to his alleged involvement in organized crime. “Baba Siddique was killed because he wasn’t a good man,” Raju said, as quoted by the PTI news agency. “There were charges against him under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), and it is believed that he was connected to Dawood Ibrahim. When people are involved with such criminals, they inevitably face consequences, and that’s what happened to Siddique.”
Siddique, a former member of the NCP, was a well-known figure in Mumbai’s political circles. His alleged links to Dawood Ibrahim, however, have never been publicly confirmed. Dawood remains a fugitive, wanted for his role in orchestrating the 1993 Mumbai bombings, which killed over 250 people and left hundreds injured. These allegations, made by a known gang member, add a new layer of intrigue to the circumstances surrounding Siddique’s murder, which took place on October 12 in Mumbai.
Raju, however, denied any direct involvement in Siddique’s murder, though he did admit to being part of the Lawrence Bishnoi-Hashim Baba gang, which has been involved in various high-profile crimes across India. According to police, Raju had recently played a role in the killing of gym owner Nadir Shah in Delhi’s Greater Kailash area last month.
In his statement, Raju explained how technology plays a key role in today’s criminal world. “With mobile phones, the internet, and Google, we can learn a lot about someone. Information is easily accessible,” he said. He went on to describe how he received instructions indirectly and had no personal contact with those involved in the planning of criminal activities. “We get direct orders for our targets. If someone gets in the way, they will face consequences,” Raju stated.
Raju claimed that his descent into the criminal underworld was a result of police pressure. “I was pushed into this life by the police. I am a poor man, and false cases are being filed against me. I’ve been forced into crime because of the circumstances,” he said, asserting that he had initially been innocent before gradually getting involved with the Hashim Baba gang, which operates under the umbrella of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. He further revealed the sheer scale of the gang, stating, “This gang is much bigger than you think. There are more members than you can imagine.”
Following his medical treatment, Raju was transferred back into police custody and will be held in a local jail while the investigation continues. His arrest is seen as a significant breakthrough for law enforcement agencies, which have been tracking the activities of the Lawrence Bishnoi-Hashim Baba gang for some time.
The investigation into Baba Siddique’s murder is ongoing, with authorities probing the veracity of Raju’s claims regarding Siddique’s ties to Dawood Ibrahim. However, the allegations have already sparked considerable public interest and speculation, raising questions about the late politician’s criminal connections.
As Raju remains in police custody, further details are expected to emerge in the coming days, shedding light on both Siddique’s death and the larger nexus of organized crime in India.
