Shivkumar Gautham, the main shooter involved in the murder of veteran Maharashtra politician Baba Siddique told police that Lawrence Bishnoi gang wanted either the leader or his son Zeeshan killed. Police arrested Gautam and four others on Sunday and they have been remanded to police custody for a week.
Gautam reportedly told Mumbai police that his assignment was to gun down whomever he came across first, News 18 reported. During interrogation, the main shooter said Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother Anmol assigned him the task.
The Mumbai police along with Uttar Pradesh police’s special task force nabbed Gautam on Sunday while he was plotting to escape to neighbouring Nepal. Police also arrested Anurag Kashyap, Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Akash Srivastava and Akhilendra Pratap Singh for providing shelter to Gautam.
Police on Monday sought custody of all five accused and a Mumbai court granted their custody till November 19.
Police are reportedly probing how the accused managed to procure arms for the crime and financial transactions. Mumbai police have so far arrested 23 accused in connection with the murder of the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) leader. According to Uttar Pradesh police, Gautam had no criminal history.
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Baba Siddique, a veteran in Maharashtra politics, was gunned down by assailants near his son’s office in Mumbai on October 12. As people were bursting firecrackers to celebrate Dussehra, three assailants emerged from the crowd, neutralised the three-time former MLA’s personal security officer and opened fire from close range.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has allegedly claimed responsibility for the murder. He was killed allegedly for his close ties with Bollywood actor Salman Khan. The Bishnoi gang has been targeting Khan ever since he was convicted in the blackbuck hunting case.