Fugitive gangster Anmol Bishnoi allegedly ordered the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique to establish his crime network’s dominance and create an atmosphere of fear, according to a charge sheet filed by Mumbai police, reports PTI.
The charge sheet, filed Monday, named 29 people, including 26 arrested people and three wanted suspects, including Bishnoi, the brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The other wanted suspects are Mohammad Yasin Akhtar and Shubham Lonkar.
The Mumbai Crime Branch said it has gathered strong evidence against all 29 accused.
A 4,590-page chargesheet in the Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court, reports The Indian Express, citing an officer.
Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister, was shot dead on Oct. 12, 2024, by three assailants outside his son Zeeshan Siddique’s office in the Bandra area of Mumbai.
The arrested suspects include Shivkumar Gautam, the alleged main shooter, and his aides. They have been charged with murder under the Indian Penal Code, with MCOCA charges also invoked. All the arrested suspects are in judicial custody.
Police have recorded statements from 88 people and identified 180 witnesses, including Zeeshan Siddique. They have also recovered five firearms, six magazines, and 35 mobile phones.
In November, Mumbai police revealed that they had requested the extradition of Anmol Bishnoi after U.S. authorities informed them he was in the country. He is wanted in several high-profile crimes, including the murder of Baba Siddique. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has offered a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
Both Lawrence and Anmol Bishnoi are also wanted in connection with a firing incident outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s residence in Mumbai in April. A lookout circular was issued for Anmol Bishnoi after he claimed responsibility for the attack.
Lawrence Bishnoi is currently incarcerated in Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat.
The police chargesheet stated that the accused targeted Baba Siddique because they believed he was close to actor Salman Khan, who has been a focus of the gang due to allegations that he shot and killed a black buck, a sacred animal for the Bishnoi community. Additionally, the chargesheet indicated that Siddique was chosen as a target because the gang suspected he had ties to the Dawood Ibrahim network, IE report says.
The Crime Branch also found no evidence to support claims that Siddique’s murder was linked to any dispute over Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects in Mumbai.