Key Suspect in Baba Siddique’s Murder Linked to Salman Khan Shooting Case: Mumbai Police Intensify Search
The Mumbai Police are actively searching for one of the key suspects in the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, which took place in Bandra last week. The suspect, Shubham Lonkar, is also linked to an earlier incident involving actor Salman Khan. In April, there was a firing outside Khan’s residence, Galaxy Apartments, in Bandra, and Lonkar was among those questioned by the police at the time. However, he was released due to a lack of concrete evidence.
During their investigation into Siddique’s murder, police have identified Lonkar as a key conspirator. Siddique, a three-time MLA and member of the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was shot dead in Bandra. Sources indicate that Lonkar is believed to be a prominent member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, a criminal group that has been involved in several high-profile cases.
After the April incident outside Salman Khan’s home, where shots were fired, Lonkar was picked up for questioning. Several individuals interrogated in connection with the case had mentioned Lonkar’s name. He was allegedly accused of providing shelter to the suspects involved in the shooting. However, due to a lack of substantial evidence, the police had to release him at the time.
More recently, police investigations have linked Lonkar and his brother, Pravin, to the plot to kill Baba Siddique. The brothers are accused of recruiting two shooters, Dharamraj Kashyap and Shiv Kumar Gautam, to carry out the assassination. A Facebook post, in which the Lawrence Bishnoi gang took responsibility for Siddique’s murder, was reportedly linked to Shubham Lonkar’s account. This post has since become a central piece of evidence as the police continue their investigation.
The police arrested Pravin Lonkar in Pune on Sunday evening, while Shubham remains on the run. In court on Monday, the police officially named the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as the primary suspects behind Siddique’s killing, marking a significant development in the case.
The Facebook post attributed to Shubham Lonkar offered chilling details about the motive behind Siddique’s murder. In the post, Lonkar claimed that Siddique had been targeted due to his alleged connections to India’s most wanted terrorist, Dawood Ibrahim, and his close relationship with Salman Khan. Additionally, Lonkar referenced the death of Anuj Thapan, a suspect arrested in the shooting outside Khan’s residence, who had died in police custody. Thapan was found dead in the Mumbai Crime Branch lock-up on May 1, with the official cause listed as suicide. However, his family has contested this, accusing the police of torturing him.
The Facebook post also included a warning directed at those associated with Salman Khan and the Dawood gang. Written in Hindi, Lonkar stated, “We do not have any enmity with anyone, but whoever helps Salman Khan and the Dawood gang, keep your accounts in order (‘hisab-kitaab kar lena’).” The authenticity of the post is currently being verified by authorities, but it has already raised concerns about the involvement of the Bishnoi gang in Siddique’s murder and its broader implications.
In response to these developments, security has been tightened around Salman Khan’s residence in Bandra as well as his farmhouse in Panvel, located near Mumbai. Given the gang’s repeated threats against Khan, authorities are taking no chances in ensuring his safety.
This case has drawn significant attention due to the involvement of high-profile figures such as Salman Khan and the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has a history of involvement in violent crimes. The connection between Siddique’s murder and the gang’s ongoing feud with Khan has added a complex layer to the investigation.
As police continue their hunt for Shubham Lonkar, the case underscores the growing influence of organized crime in Mumbai and the challenges faced by law enforcement in curbing gang-related activities. With Pravin Lonkar in custody and Shubham still at large, investigators are working to unravel the full extent of the plot behind Baba Siddique’s murder and the role of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in this brutal killing.
The Mumbai Police’s efforts to bring those responsible to justice remain ongoing, with further developments expected in the coming days as they intensify their search for the remaining suspects and gather more evidence related to the case.