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The murder of Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader, has sent shockwaves through the political community in Mumbai. The case has taken a significant turn with the arrest of five individuals who initially agreed to carry out the assassination but later backed out due to a payment dispute and concerns about Siddique's high-profile status. This brings the total number of arrests in the case to nine, but three key suspects remain at large. The investigation has revealed a complex network of individuals involved in the murder plot, highlighting the intricate planning and logistical support required to carry out such a high-profile crime.
According to Mumbai police, the five newly arrested individuals – Nitin Gautam Sapre, Sambhaji Kisan Pardhi, Pradeep Dattu Thombre, Chetan Dilip Pardhi, and Ram Fulchand Kanoujia – were approached by a mediator to assassinate Baba Siddique. Their initial demand for Rs 50 lakh for the murder was ultimately the reason for their withdrawal from the plot. Sapre, the leader of the group, reportedly recognized the significant risks and complications associated with targeting a prominent politician like Siddique. This realization, coupled with the disagreement over payment, led them to abandon the plan.
Despite backing out, the group did not sever ties with the assassination plot. They allegedly provided logistical support and firearms to those who eventually carried out the shooting. The police have established that Sapre's module maintained communication with Shubham Lonkar and mastermind Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar until the night of the shooting. The investigation has now shifted its focus to determine whether the assassination proposal was brought to Sapre's group through the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Investigators are trying to establish if Lonkar and Akhtar, both conspirators in the case, facilitated this connection.