NEW DELHI: Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was shot dead in Mumbai on the evening of Dussehra, Saturday. The incident occurred mere hours after he had shared a message of goodwill on social media, expressing his hopes for the festival.
Earlier on Saturday, at 11am, Baba Siddique had taken to the platform X to convey his wishes, stating, “Happy Dussehra”.
Later that night, at approximately 9.30pm, three unknown assailants opened fire on Siddique outside the office of his son, Zeeshan Siddique, who serves as Congress MLA from Mumbai.
Earlier, Baba Siddique penned a post on legendary industrialist Ratan Tata. Taking to X, he wrote, ‘End of an Era.’
Siddique represented the Bandra (West) seat three times in the Maharashtra assembly. He had close ties with Bollywood stars like Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Sanjay Dutt.
Baba Siddique was waylaid by three men at Kher Nagar in Mumbai just outside his son’s office around 9.30 pm on Saturday and shot at. He was taken to Lilavati Hospital, where he was declared dead.
Two assailants have been detained. The third one is on the run, police said.
Siddique was granted Y category protection 15 days ago after receiving threats, police said. He was provided a personal security officer 24×7, they said. Police are examining if the murder has anything to do with an SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Authority) dispute.
They are also probing if the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was behind the killing considering that Siddique was close to actor Salman Khan, who has been targeted by the gangster.