Baba Siddique News Live Updates: Fourth accused sent to police custody till October 21

Days after NCP leader Baba Siddique was killed in Mumbai, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday said the Election Commission will take a strict view on preventing violence, especially against political personalities, as the Model Code of Conduct comes into force in Maharashtra. Asked about concerns following Siddique's killing, especially as the poll panel is already dealing with the issue of urban apathy towards voting, the CEC said they will make it clear to police that violence of any sort should not take place.

"After the MCC declaration, we will make it extremely clear to the police authorities in a particular state that you are mentioning that violence of any kind and a crime of this nature, which has political overtones, would be absolutely a no-go area for the commission," Kumar said.

"So far, we did not have a role. As the MCC comes into force, we will have a strict view on this. We will direct everyone that any kind of violence or crime, especially against any political person, should not happen," he added.

"We ensured that it did not happen in Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir.... States after states," the CEC said.

A court here on Tuesday remanded the fourth accused arrested in connection with the murder of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique in police custody till October 21. The accused, Harishkumar Nisad (23), was apprehended from Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, earlier in the day.

Police informed the court that Nisad, who is a scrap dealer in Pune, was also part of the conspiracy to kill Siddique and had provided financial help for the operation.

The police said they needed to find details of the financial transactions and who sponsored them.

Police had earlier arrested Haryana resident Gurmail Baljit Singh (23), Uttar Pradesh native Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap (19), both alleged shooters, and "co-conspirator" Pravin Lonkar from Pune. They have been remanded in police custody till October 21.

Another suspected shooter, Shivkumar Gautam, who also hails from Bahraich, is still on the run.

Mumbai Crime officials took Harish Kumar, the fourth accused arrested, to present him in court.

The Mumbai police have arrested one more person in connection with the killing of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Harishkumar Balakram (23), hailing from Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh, was involved in providing money and other logistical support to the shooters, an official said.

Balakram worked as a scrap dealer in Warje area of Maharashtra's Pune, he said.


A crime branch team apprehended him from Bahraich in UP on Monday and brought him to Mumbai on Tuesday morning, the official said.

With this, four persons have so far been arrested in connection with Siddique's killing.

Police had earlier arrested Haryana resident Gurmail Baljit Singh (23), Uttar Pradesh native Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap (19), both alleged shooters, and "co-conspirator" Pravin Lonkar from Pune.

Another suspected shooter Shivkumar Gautam, who hails from Bahraich, is on the run.

Balakram was part of the conspiracy to kill three-time MLA Baba Siddique along with Kashyap, Gautam, Pravin Lonkar and the latter's brother Shubham Lonkar, the official said.

Baba Siddique (66) was waylaid by three persons in Mumbai's Nirmal Nagar area, just outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office, and shot at on Saturday night. He was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital where he was declared dead, according to police.

The Mumbai crime branch has formed various teams to nab Shivkumar Gautam, accused Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar and other persons wanted in the case.

The crime branch was also probing various angles, including a possible contract killing, business or political rivalry or threat over a slum rehabilitation project, according to officials.

The Mumbai police have arrested one more person in connection with the killing of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, officials said on Tuesday. The accused has been identified as Harishkumar Balakram (23), hailing from Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh, an official said.

Balakram was working as a scrap dealer in Maharashtra's Pune, he said, adding the accused was also part of the conspiracy to kill Siddique.

He was nabbed from Bahraich, the official said.

With this, four persons have so far been arrested in connection with Siddique's killing.

The crime branch of the Mumbai Police on Tuesday arrested one men from Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh in connection with the murder of former Maharashtra MLA and NCP leader Baba Siddique. As per reports, the arrested person is a relative of Dharamaraj Rajesh Kashyap, one of the three suspects arrested so far in connection with the case.

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar expressed grief and shock over the murder of former minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique.

Bhandarkar condemned the attack and said, "It's very sad and unfortunate what happened with Baba Siddique. I have known him for the past many years. He was very reachable and used to interact with people. I always used to attend his Iftar parties and what happened was very shocking and I wish the family remains strong."

Siddique was shot dead by unidentified attackers in Mumbai on Saturday evening. Siddique, a three-time MLA from Bandra West, joined Ajit Pawar's NCP earlier in February this year after resigning from Congress.

Lawrence Bishnoi, a notorious gangster, has a hit-list that includes various prominent figures from the entertainment industry, politics, and other sectors. Despite being incarcerated for almost ten years, Bishnoi has managed to run his criminal enterprise from the confines of different prisons throughout his sentence.

Only one constable was accompanying NCP leader Baba Siddique when he was shot dead in Mumbai's Bandra area on October 12 by three persons who took cover of Dussehra fireworks to open fire, a police official said on Monday. Six rounds were fired on Siddique, two of which hit the 66-year-old former Maharashtra minister on the chest, outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office in Nirmal Nagar between 9:15pm and 9:30pm on Saturday.

The killing of NCP leader Baba Siddique has sparked outrage and condemnation from various quarters. Many prominent figures from Bollywood expressed their grief and shock on social media platforms.

Actor R Madhavan took to Instagram to share a photograph of Zeeshan Siddique, captured during his late father's funeral. Alongside the image, Madhavan wrote, "This is so heartbreaking. Heart goes out to Zeeshan and family. May God give them strength to bear with this tragic event."

Arpita Khan Sharma and her husband Aayush Sharma, who are closely related to Salman Khan, also expressed their sorrow and condolences over the untimely demise of Baba Siddique.

Police were verifying a social media post, attributed to a purported member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, owning up to the murder of Siddique.

The crime branch was probing various angles, including a possible contract killing, business or political rivalry or threat over a slum rehabilitation project, officials said.

The Mumbai police have set up 15 teams which fanned out of Maharashtra in search of individuals linked to the high-profile murder.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde addressed the state's law and order situation following the killing of NCP leader Baba Siddique, stating that the government is committed to ensuring public safety and will ensure that the accused responsible for such crimes will be held accountable and will not be left unpunished.

Shinde confirmed that Mumbai police have arrested two individuals in connection with the case and reiterated that the safety of Maharashtra's citizens is a top priority for the government.

Speaking to ANI, Shinde said on Sunday, "Yesterday's incident of Baba Siddique's murder is unfortunate and sad. Mumbai Police has arrested two people, one is from UP and the other from Haryana. The third accused is absconding. He will be arrested soon. They will not be spared no matter who they are be it the Bishnoi gang or any underworld gang. Strict action will be taken. Those who are receiving threats, their safety is the state government's responsibility and it will fulfil its responsibility."

Tarun Chugh, the national general secretary of the Bhartiya Janata Party, declared on Monday that all individuals responsible for the killing of NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) leader Baba Siddique will face consequences for their actions.

Tarun Chugh said that police is thoroughly examining all aspects of the case and investigating any potential connections related to the incident.

"No accused will be spared. Strict action will be taken and the government is already on the front foot," Chugh emphasised, assuring that stringent measures will be implemented to address the situation.

Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Sanjay Nirupam on Monday appealed the opposition parties in Maharashtra to refrain from doing politics over Baba Siddique's murder, adding that the state government has taken up this case as a 'challenge.'

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam said,"...The way Baba Siddique was murdered is a matter of concern. The government has taken it as a challenge. It is a challenge for the government,"

Nirupam said that the law and order situation of the state cannot be judged on the basis of a single incident.

"To conclude on the basis of one incident that the entire law and order has collapsed, I think this is an exaggeration. By saying such things, the opposition is doing the politics. At the time of such incidents, one should not do politics but should work and support the government. The Mumbai Police and the Crime Branch of the police are seriously investigating this case," he added.

The murder was carried out by three shooters, one of whom, Gurmel Singh, hails from the village of Narad in Haryana's Kaithal district. The other two shooters are from Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh. Gurmel and another shooter, Dharmaraj, have already been arrested, while the third shooter, Shivkumar, remains at large.

Additionally, links to the murder case have surfaced in Jalandhar. Reports indicate that a fourth accused, identified as Mohammad Zeeshan Akhtar from the village of Shakar in Nakodar, Punjab, was involved. According to police, Akhtar was arrested by Jalandhar Rural Police in 2022 for organized crime, murder, and robbery.

Police have conducted extensive searches in places of worship located in Ujjain and Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, as part of their ongoing efforts to apprehend the third suspect involved in the shooting of NCP leader Baba Siddique. The incident occurred outside the office of Siddique's son, Zeeshan Siddique, an MLA, in Nirmal Nagar, Mumbai, between 9:15 pm and 9:30 pm on Saturday. The former Maharashtra minister was shot six times, with two bullets striking him in the chest.

To date, the police have taken three individuals into custody in connection with the case. These include Gurmail Baljit Singh, a 23-year-old from Haryana, and Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap, a 19-year-old from Uttar Pradesh, both of whom are suspected to be the shooters. Additionally, Pravin Lonkar from Pune has been arrested as a "co-conspirator" in the crime.

The third suspected shooter, Shivkumar Gautam, who is originally from Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, remains at large. In recent months, Gautam has been actively posting content online, openly displaying his self-proclaimed "gangster" status.