Baba Siddique, a prominent leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and former Maharashtra minister, was shot dead in Bandra East on Saturday night. The attack was carried out by three gunmen, and the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility.
Mumbai Police have arrested two suspects: Gurmail Baljit Singh from Haryana and Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh. A third suspect remains at large as authorities continue their search.
The 66-year-old Siddique, known for his close ties with Bollywood stars including Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, was a well-respected Muslim leader in Mumbai. He served as an MLA for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2009 and was recognized for his philanthropic efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, including supplying life-saving medicines. His annual iftar parties attracted significant attention from both political and film industry figures.
Siddique had recently switched from Congress to the NCP, which boosted the party’s prospects in upcoming elections, particularly in Muslim-dominated areas of Mumbai. His murder raises serious concerns about the city’s law and order situation as Maharashtra prepares for assembly elections in the coming weeks.
