Mumbai Police makes third arrest in Baba Siddique murder case; nabs 'co-conspirator' from Pune

Police are also verifying a social media post in which an alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has taken up the responsibility for the murder.
(L-R) NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique was shot dead by assailants; A forensic team conducts its investigation at the site of assassination in Mumbai on Saturday night, Oct. 12, 2024.
(L-R) NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique was shot dead by assailants; A forensic team conducts its investigation at the site of assassination in Mumbai on Saturday night, Oct. 12, 2024.
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MUMBAI: The Mumbai police have arrested a 28-year-old man from Pune who along with his brother "enlisted" two of the three alleged shooters in the Baba Siddique murder case, an official said on Sunday.

Police called the man, Pravin Lonkar, a "co-conspirator" and said they are on the lookout for his brother Shubham Lonkar.

This is the third arrest in the case.

According to the crime branch official, Pravin and Shubham "enlisted" two alleged shooters, a UP resident and Shivkumar Gautam.

While Gautam is on the run, police have arrested the UP resident and another alleged shooter, identified as Gurmail Baljit Singh (23).

The official said police went to Pune looking for Shubham Lonkar but did not find him there.

(L-R) NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique was shot dead by assailants; A forensic team conducts its investigation at the site of assassination in Mumbai on Saturday night, Oct. 12, 2024.
NCP's Baba Siddique shot dead in Mumbai; gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's gang claims responsibility—key details

They then nabbed his brother Pravin for his alleged involvement in the crime, he said.

Earlier today, a Mumbai police officer informed that two pistols and 28 live cartridges were recovered from the two accused who were arrested immediately after the incident.

Police are also verifying a social media post in which an alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has taken up the responsibility for the murder of the NCP (Ajit Pawar) leader.

The 66-year-old NCP leader was waylaid by three persons at Kher Nagar in Mumbai's Bandra 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.

"Police have set up 15 teams which are fanned out of Maharashtra and investigation is on to identify who provided logistical support to the shooters. Two pistols and 28 live rounds were recovered from the accused," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime branch) Datta Nalawade.

He clarified that Siddique was provided a non-categorised security and was allotted three police constables.

"These constables work in three shifts. At the time of the incident (on Saturday night), one policeman was accompanying Siddique," Nalawade told a press conference.

Police have so far arrested two persons. The involvement of more persons is suspected.

Speaking on the investigation, the DCP said 15 teams have been set up which are working out of Maharashtra.

"A team of Mumbai Police in collaboration with MP police is looking for the accused (who hails from Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh). They suspect he might be hiding in MP and searching him in Ujjain district and Omkareshwar (in Khandwa district) of MP," a police officer told PTI.

Nobody has been traced till 7:30 PM, the officer said, adding that the suspect is apparently on the move.

The crime branch is trying to identify the location where the assailants had stayed after arriving in Mumbai and who helped them.

"After the shooting incident, Assistant Police Inspector Rajendra Dhabade and a constable nabbed both shooters," Nalawade added.

(L-R) NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique was shot dead by assailants; A forensic team conducts its investigation at the site of assassination in Mumbai on Saturday night, Oct. 12, 2024.
Baba Siddique's murder 'shocking, shameful': Opposition calls for Maharashtra CM, Dy CM to resign

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