Mumbai Police filed a chargesheet on Monday, accusing fugitive gangster Anmol Bishnoi of orchestrating Baba Siddiqui’s murder to instil fear and establish his gang’s supremacy. The 4,590-page chargesheet names 26 accused, including two wanted criminals, with evidence linking them to the crime.
Key Accusations Against Anmol Bishnoi
The chargesheet alleges that Anmol Bishnoi, a notorious gangster, ordered the murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddiqui on October 12, 2024. Siddiqui, a three-time Congress MLA who joined NCP in 2024, was shot dead outside his son Zeeshan Siddiqui’s office in Mumbai’s Nirmal Nagar area.
The investigation revealed that the killing was part of Bishnoi’s strategy to “create an atmosphere of terror” and solidify his gang’s influence. Among those arrested are primary shooter Shivkumar Gautam and his associates, while two suspects, Mohammad Yasin Akhtar and Shubham Lonkar, remain absconding.
Motive Behind The Crime
The chargesheet outlines three primary motives for Siddiqui’s murder:
- Closeness To Salman Khan: Baba Siddiqui’s relationship with Bollywood actor Salman Khan allegedly made him a target, as the Bishnoi gang had previously attacked the actor’s residence in April 2024.
- Revenge For Anuj Thapan’s Death: Bishnoi sought vengeance for the death of gang member Anuj Thapan, who reportedly committed suicide in police custody on May 1, 2024. Thapan’s family disputes this, alleging foul play.
- Establishing Gang Supremacy: The killing was part of a larger effort to assert the Lawrence Bishnoi gang’s dominance in Mumbai.
Detailed Investigation Findings
The police have included statements from 210 witnesses in the chargesheet, along with evidence like social media posts. A Facebook post by Shubham Lonkar reportedly provided insights into the gang’s motives.
In addition, the police traced the movements of the accused shooters, who had been surveilling Siddiqui’s office for weeks. On the day of the crime, they fired six rounds, killing Baba Siddiqui on the spot.
Previous Attacks Linked To The Gang
The Bishnoi gang had earlier fired shots outside Salman Khan’s Bandra residence on April 14, 2024. The assailants, Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal, were later apprehended in Gujarat.
Similarly, another gang member, Anuj Thapan, was arrested in Punjab on April 26, 2024, but died under mysterious circumstances while in custody. His mother, Rita Devi, filed a petition in the Bombay High Court, accusing the police of foul play.
The Baba Siddiqui murder case highlights the Bishnoi gang’s ongoing efforts to expand their influence through violence and intimidation. With 26 accused now facing trial, the focus remains on bringing justice to Siddiqui’s family and curbing organized crime in Mumbai.