Based on specific information, raids were carried out by the Crime Branch in Panvel and Karjat in neighbouring Raigad district, leading to the arrest of these five persons for conspiracy related to the crime and its execution, a Mumbai police official said.
The Mumbai Police on Friday arrested five more people in connection with the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique. With these arrests, the total number of accused held till now has reached nine.
According to the police, the Crime Branch carried out several raids in Panvel and Karjat which led to the arrest of these five persons for conspiracy related to the crime and its execution, news agency PTI reported citing a police official.
The official identified the five as Nitin Gautam Sapre (32), Sambhaji Kisan Pardhi (44), Pradeep Dattu Thombre (37), Chetan Dilip Pardhi and Ram Fulchand Kanoujia (43).
Sapre is from Dombivali, while Pardhi, Thombre and Pardhi (27) are from Ambernath in Thane district. Kanoujia is a resident of Panvel in Raigad.
“They were produced before court, which sent them in police custody till October 25. As per the interrogation of the accused, we have found that Sapre and and Kanoujia are key members of this module. The weapons used to murder Siddique were provided to the shooters by this module,” he said.
The arrested persons were also in touch with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which is accused of gunning down Siddique, the official added.
“The total number of arrests in the case now stands at nine. Further probe is underway,” he said.
Since the arrested persons are history sheeters involved in serious crimes, the police is exploring if the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) can be invoked, another official said.
The Mumbai Police earlier arrested four persons, including Haryana resident Gurmail Baljit Singh (23), Uttar Pradesh native Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap (19), both alleged shooters; Harishkumar Balakram Nisad (23), and “co-conspirator” Pravin Lonkar, who hails from Pune. Nisad and Kashyap belong to the same village as the wanted accused Shivkumar Gautam.
Prima facie, the five arrested accused were in touch with conspirator Shubham Lonkar and mastermind Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar, both absconding at present, the official said.
Gautam was hired as the “main shooter” as he knew how to operate guns, the official said citing the interrogation of Gurmail Singh and Dharmaraj Kashyap. All the four arrested accused have been sent to custody till October 21.
Ajit Pawar-led NCP leader and three-time MLA, Baba Siddique, was shot at by three men outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Mumbai’s Bandra on Saturday evening. He was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital where he was declared dead.
As per the police sources, Baba Siddique and Zeeshan Siddique, both were on the radar of shooters. Zeeshan had, in September, written to the state intelligence unit seeking enhanced security citing a threat to life. According to sources, though Zeeshan had police protection as he was an MLA, his security was enhanced after he expressed his concerns.
Though the NCP leader’s shooters claimed to have links with Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, police are exploring multiple angles including a potential contract killing, business rivalry, and threats related to a slum rehabilitation project.
(With inputs from PTI)
