On Sunday, Mumbai police presented two accused, Gurmail Singh and Dharmraj Singh Kashyap, in the firing case of former Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique before the Esplanade Court. The police have requested 14 days of police custody for both individuals to facilitate further investigation. Authorities also revealed the recovery of 28 live cartridges in the possession of the accused.
Baba Siddique was shot near Nirmal Nagar in Bandra and later succumbed to his injuries at Lilavati Hospital late Saturday night. Following the shooting, Mumbai police apprehended Gurmail Singh, a native of Haryana, and Dharmraj Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh. The police indicated that two additional suspects remain at large.
According to law enforcement officials, the arrested individuals had been surveilling Siddique prior to the incident.
Political Reactions and Concerns
The assassination of Baba Siddique has triggered a political uproar in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray criticized the state government, stating, “Whether it is the arrest of the accused in Baba Siddique’s murder or the encounter of Akshay Shinde (rape accused), suspicions are being raised on every act of this government, and this is not a good thing. We are not sure who these arrested accused are. They (Maharashtra government) are keeping tabs on our movements but are not watching the criminals.”
Community Mourning and Family Statements
Baba Siddique’s hometown of Sheikhpurdil in Bihar is mourning his loss, with villagers expressing deep concerns about the law and order situation in Maharashtra. They highlighted Siddique’s dedication to his roots, noting that he frequently visited Gopalganj and ran 40 institutions under his father’s trust, Abdur Rahim Trust. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he distributed relief materials such as sanitizers, masks, and PPE kits to the community.
Siddique’s nephew shared the family’s disbelief over the tragic news, stating, “When we heard about the incident, we could not believe it. How could such a big political leader, who has been so helpful to others and is a big-hearted person, be shot dead? If he could be shot dead, then what would be the situation of the common people? This raises several questions for the Maharashtra government. I demand strict action against the culprits.”
