Baba Siddique murder: Probe reveals shooters were in contact with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's brother

The Mumbai Crime Branch on Wednesday said that the shooters involved in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddiqui were in communication with Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, prior to the crime.

According to officials, the three suspected shooters exchanged messages with Anmol via Snapchat, while he was based in Canada and the United States.

Investigators have seized four mobile phones from the accused, and as part of the ongoing investigation, ten individuals have been arrested, including two shooters and a weapon supplier.


However, key suspect Shivkumar Gautam and several others remain at large.

The Crime Branch noted that the shooters maintained contact through Snapchat and would immediately delete messages after receiving instructions.

A close examination of the social media accounts revealed that the shooters and an accomplice, Praveen Lonkar, had direct communication with Anmol Bishnoi.

Baba Siddique shot dead

Former Maharashtra minister Siddique was shot multiple times by three assailants on October 12, 2024, as he left his office in Bandra (West), Mumbai, between 9:15 PM and 9:30 PM.

Despite immediate medical attention at Lilavati Hospital, he was pronounced dead upon arrival, raising grave concerns about security for public figures, especially given Siddique's Y-category security protection.

In response to the assassination, the Nirmal Nagar Police Station has registered a case under Crime Registration No. 589/2024, citing serious charges, including sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), provisions of the Arms Act, and the Maharashtra Police Act.

The Lawrence Bishnoi link

Reports indicate that notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi financed the assassination, initially providing Rs 50,000 and promising an additional Rs 2 lakh upon successful completion of the crime.

The attackers had allegedly prepared for the operation well in advance, securing a rented room in Kurla as a base. Equipped with photographs of Siddique for identification, they executed the plan with alarming precision.

Witnesses reported that Gautam, one of the shooters, fired six bullets, hitting Siddique three times.

After the shooting, the assailants attempted to evade capture by fleeing through a Durga Puja procession and incapacitating Siddique's police guard with pepper spray.

However, police were able to apprehend two suspects, identified as Kashyap and Singh, in a nearby park shortly after the incident.

This brazen act has prompted a deeper examination of security measures in place for high-profile individuals in Maharashtra, as questions arise about how such a violent act could occur despite existing protective protocols.