The Mumbai police arrested another individual on Wednesday in connection with the murder of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, according to an official. The crime branch has taken the accused into custody, though further details have not been provided. This marks the 16th arrest in the case, the official added, PTI reported.
According to ANI, Earlier in the day, one of the key eye-witnesses in the case received a threatening call from an unknown individual demanding a ransom of Rs 5 crore, Mumbai Police said.
Also Read:Baba Siddique murder case: Criminals used Snapchat to evade police detection- Here’s why
The caller threatened the witness with death if the money was not paid. A complaint has been filed at Khar police station, and investigations are underway.
Siddique, who was shot dead on October 12, was targeted by three assailants near his son MLA Zeeshan Siddique’s office in the Nirmal Nagar area of Mumbai. He suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The gang led by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has claimed responsibility for the murder. To date, 15 people have been arrested in connection with the crime.
On November 2, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde promised strict action against those involved in the killing. “The incident was very unfortunate,” he said, adding that the government is committed to upholding law and order and ensuring those responsible are held accountable.
In a significant development, on October 26, Mumbai Police, in collaboration with Punjab Police, arrested Sujeet Sushil Singh, a Mumbai resident, for his role in the conspiracy. Singh had been informed about the murder plot three days in advance and assisted in logistics. He was subsequently handed over to Mumbai Police for further investigation.