Baba Siddique, a prominent Indian politician with strong ties to Bollywood, was tragically shot dead in Mumbai on Saturday by unknown assailants, just months before state elections. The three-time member of the state legislative assembly was attacked near his son’s office in the upscale Bandra East area of Mumbai. The 66-year-old former Maharashtra state minister was shot in the chest by three men who fired multiple bullets on the day of the Hindu festival of Dussehra. Despite being rushed to Lilavati Hospital, Siddique succumbed to his injuries. An aide accompanying him also sustained injuries during the attack.
As news of Siddique’s killing spread, Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, from the same political party as Siddique, expressed shock over the incident. Pawar assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted, and strict action would be taken against the attackers. He vowed to trace the mastermind behind the attack. The tragic incident has raised concerns about political violence ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections and the resurgence of gang-related violence in Mumbai, a trend that had been successfully contained in recent years.
In response to the shooting, the police have apprehended three suspects believed to be connected to the criminal organisation led by imprisoned gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi, according to reports by the NDTV news channel. Bishnoi’s gang has a history of high-profile killings and extortion activities. Despite Bishnoi being incarcerated in a Gujarat jail and facing numerous criminal charges, his gang continues to make headlines for its criminal activities, including recent reports of ransom demands targeting businessmen. Police have disclosed that the alleged attackers have admitted to being in contact with Bishnoi’s gang, although further investigations are ongoing to determine the exact motives behind the assassination.
Siddique, a former member of the Congress Party who later aligned with a faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in a coalition government with the BJP, was not only influential in politics but also enjoyed close relationships with Bollywood celebrities. Known for hosting extravagant iftar parties attended by the likes of Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, Siddique played a pivotal role in reconciling the two superstar actors. The late politician had received a death threat just 15 days before the fatal attack and was subsequently provided with Y-level security, which includes a team of 8 security personnel, including commandos and police officers.
Expressing condemnation over Siddique’s assassination, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde described the incident as “extremely unfortunate” and cautioned against the resurgence of gang violence in Mumbai. Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, responsible for the home ministry, has been closely monitoring the case. Former Maharashtra chief minister Sharad Pawar, a vocal critic of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), called for accountability within the government in light of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Warning against complacency, Pawar urged officials to safeguard public safety and uphold the rule of law.
As investigations into the assassination of Baba Siddique continue, the tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of political landscapes and the repercussions of unchecked violence in society.