Zeeshan Akhtar, a resident of Jalandhar, was detained in Canada on Wednesday for allegedly playing a key role in the murder of senior politician and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique.
According to reports, Akhtar had teamed up with jailed shooter Gurmel Singh and other suspects. He is accused of helping arrange weapons and providing shelter to the attackers involved in the killing.
Officials believe Akhtar left Mumbai a month before the murder in October last year to avoid drawing attention to himself.
How did Akhtar allegedly plan Baba Siddique’s killing?
Zeeshan Akhtar, who allegedly has links to the Lawrence and Anmol Bishnoi gang, is the second person to be detained in Canada in connection with Siddique’s murder case. The first person to be detained was Anmol Bishnoi himself.
Authorities claim that Akhtar played a key role in planning the killing and helping finance the operation. Investigations revealed he used more than 10 different bank accounts to transfer funds and support the attackers. His detention marks a significant development in the probe, which has uncovered a broader network of international links and financial support connected to the high-profile killing of Siddique in Maharashtra.
Baba Siddique Killing: Developments so far
According to media reports, so far 26 people have been arrested in connection with the murder of Baba Siddique. Among them is Shivkumar Gautam, also known as Shiva, who is believed to be the gunman who shot Siddique. The arrests were made from different locations across India, including Pune, Haryana, Dombivli, Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh, and Karjat.
The Mumbai Police are preparing to file a chargesheet against all accused under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), indicating the organised nature of the crime, a report by Times of India said.
Siddique, aged 66, was killed by three shooters outside his son Zeeshan’s office in Bandra (East) on the night of October 12. Initially, Zeeshan claimed that a builder group involved in a slum redevelopment project (SRA) was responsible for his father’s killing. However, the police investigation dismissed this theory.
According to the police chargesheet, the murder was orchestrated by Anmol Bishnoi, the Canada-based brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Investigators believe the motive was linked to Siddique’s alleged past connections with underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim and Bollywood actor Salman Khan. The case has revealed links to international crime networks, with financial and logistical support from abroad.