Siddique Murder Case Five Arrested
Key Accused Remanded to Police Custody
In a major development in the Siddique murder case, a Mumbai court on Monday ordered the remand of the alleged main shooter, Shivkumar Gautam, along with four others, until November 19. The arrest followed a joint operation conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) and the Mumbai Crime Branch on Sunday.
Details of the Arrest
Shivkumar Gautam, aged 20, was apprehended in Nanpara, a locality in Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh. Along with him, four individuals—Anurag Kashyap, Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Akash Srivastava, and Akhilendra Pratap Singh—were detained on charges of sheltering Gautam and aiding in his attempt to flee to Nepal. The case has drawn significant attention as the late NCP politician Baba Siddique was a prominent figure.
Court Proceedings and Police Investigation
During the court proceedings, the crime branch presented the accused before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vinod Patil. The prosecution argued for their remand, emphasizing the need to investigate the financial dimensions of the Siddique murder case and trace how the firearms were acquired. According to police reports, Anurag Kashyap had provided Shivkumar with Rs 2 lakh, necessitating an inquiry into the source of these funds.
Links to Wanted Accused
The investigation revealed that Shivkumar had maintained contact with Shubham Lonkar, a wanted associate. The police asserted that custodial interrogation was essential to track Lonkar’s location and delve deeper into the network behind the Siddique murder case. Advocate Amit Mishra, representing the accused, stated that Shivkumar was willing to cooperate with the authorities, but argued that the other four accused should receive minimum custody as their involvement was limited to providing shelter and assisting in his escape.
Background of the Murder
The Siddique murder case dates back to October 12, when Baba Siddique, aged 66, was shot outside the office of his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique, in Bandra East, Mumbai. The attackers inflicted two gunshot wounds on his chest. Despite immediate medical attention and transport to Lilavati Hospital, Siddique succumbed to his injuries. The case quickly escalated into a high-profile investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
Shivkumar’s Background and Alleged Motive
Shivkumar Gautam, originally from Gandara village in the Kaiserganj police jurisdiction of Bahraich district, had moved to Maharashtra several years ago seeking work. According to the UP STF, Gautam had earlier invited a neighbor, Dharmaraj Kashyap, to join him in Maharashtra. His father, Balkrishna, works as a mason and sustains his livelihood as a daily laborer.
During questioning, Shivkumar disclosed that he worked at a scrap shop in Pune, adjacent to another shop owned by Shubham Lonkar. It was here that Shivkumar reportedly became associated with Lonkar, who, according to him, worked for the notorious criminal Lawrence Bishnoi. The Siddique murder case investigation has revealed that Shivkumar communicated with Anmol Bishnoi, Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother, multiple times through Snapchat.
Financial Incentives and Promises
The UP STF reported that Shivkumar confessed to expecting a payment of Rs 10 lakh for carrying out Siddique’s murder. He also claimed that he had been promised ongoing support of “something or the other” every month as compensation for his involvement. This financial angle forms a crucial part of the probe, aiming to uncover the broader network of individuals financing and orchestrating the crime.
Current Status of the Case
As of now, authorities have arrested a total of 23 individuals linked to the Siddique murder case. The investigation continues, with efforts focused on unearthing the deeper motives and connections tied to this high-profile assassination. The police remain committed to ensuring that justice is served, pursuing all leads and accomplices involved in the conspiracy.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the latest information available and aims to present the details accurately. For ongoing updates, refer to official sources.