Former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique Shot Dead in Mumbai; Lawrence Bishnoi Gang Connection Suspected

Mumbai: Former Maharashtra minister and Ajit Pawar-led NCP leader Baba Siddique was shot dead by three assailants in Mumbai on Saturday evening.

The 66-year-old was attacked near his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Bandra East around 9.30 PM while bursting crackers on the occasion of Dussehra.

The gunmen, their faces covered, fired multiple rounds from a 9.9 mm pistol, hitting Siddique in the chest and abdomen. He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

Police have arrested two suspects, identified as Karnail Singh and Dharamraj Kashyap, who allegedly belong to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The suspects claimed to have been tracking Siddique for a month, sources revealed. A third suspect remains at large, and efforts to apprehend him are underway.

Authorities recovered bullet casings from the scene and one of the shots cracked Siddique’s car windshield. Despite medical efforts, Siddique was declared dead at 11:27 PM. His body was moved to Cooper Hospital for an autopsy.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured stringent action against those responsible, while Deputy CM Ajit Pawar cancelled his Sunday engagements to return to Mumbai. Pawar expressed condolences, describing Siddique as a dedicated leader who championed minority rights.

Opposition leaders, including Congress’s KC Venugopal and Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Priyanka Chaturvedi, criticised the government, questioning the state’s deteriorating law and order. Venugopal noted that Siddique had raised concerns about threats to his life despite Y-plus security, emphasising the lack of fear among criminals.

Born in 1958 in Patna, Siddique built a political career in Mumbai, starting with the Congress in 1977. He served as Bandra West MLA for three terms, recognised for his strong grassroots connections and efforts towards religious harmony.