Baba Siddiqui murder case: Maharashtra court frames charges against 27 accused

Mumbai: A Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court here on Tuesday framed charges against 27 accused in the murder case of former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique, paving the way for the commencement of trial.

According to lawyers present in the court, the accused have been charged under provisions of the MCOCA, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Arms Act and the Bombay Police Act. The court recorded the pleas of all accused, who denied the charges and claimed trial. Special Public Prosecutor Mahesh Mule appeared for the state while senior advocates Pradip Gharat and Trivankumar Karnani represented the intervener.

In January 2025, the city police filed a charge sheet against 26 accused in the case and named fugitive gangster Anmol Bishnoi, brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, as a wanted accused and key conspirator. Police has not named Lawrence Bishnoi as an accused in the matter. The 4,590-page chargesheet cited multiple motives behind the killing, including Siddique's proximity to Bollywood actor Salman Khan - who investigators say had been on the gang's radar - as well as an alleged attempt by the syndicate to instil fear and establish dominance in the extortion network in Mumbai.On October 12, 2024, Siddique was shot outside his son Zeeshan's office in Bandra in October 2024.