On July 14, Mumbai Police's crime branch filed a comprehensive 1736-page charge sheet in the MCOCA court. This dossier detailed the shootout at Bollywood actor Salman Khan's residence, Galaxy Apartments, on April 14. The notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, among nine others, was named as an accused. The report indicates that the threats to Salman were merely a diversion; in reality, Lawrence aimed to rule over the entire Mumbai underworld. With the chilling murder of Baba Siddiqui, two pressing questions emerge. Is the Lawrence Gang responsible for this murder, and if so, why was Baba Siddiqui targeted?
In the aftermath of 48 hours of scrutiny, the links pieced together by Mumbai Police suggest a possible involvement of the Lawrence Gang. Let's delve into why this theory holds water. So far, police have identified six individuals part of the conspiracy and execution of Baba Siddiqui's murder: Gurmail Singh, Shivkumar Gautam, Dharamraj Kashyap, Zeeshan Akhtar, Parveen Lonkar, and Shubham alias Shubu Lonkar. Gurmail Singh, Dharamraj Kashyap, and Parveen Lonkar are in police custody, while Zeeshan, Shivkumar, and Shubham remain at large.
Source: aajtak
How Was the Plot to Kill NCP Leader Baba Siddiqui Orchestrated?
Among those apprehended, Gurmail, Dharamraj, and Shivkumar have revealed a compelling narrative. Zeeshan Akhtar, from Shakar Village in Punjab's Jalandhar, was imprisoned in Patiala for murder and robbery. Between 2022 and June 2024, he forged ties with Lawrence Gang members and Gurmail Singh, accused of fratricide. After securing bail, Zeeshan visited Gurmail in Kaithal before relocating to Mumbai.
As per Mumbai Police, inside Patiala Jail, Zeeshan received a message via the Lawrence Gang, revealing his target: Baba Siddiqui. Tasked with assembling shooters, Zeeshan required individuals without deep criminal histories, to avoid drawing attention. He teamed up with Shubham in Pune, who previously worked for the Lawrence Gang. Shubham, running a dairy and scrap yard, engaged Dharma Raj and Shivkumar, who worked at the yard, by offering them financial lure.
Did Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi Issue the Contract for Baba Siddiqui's Kill?
Post the incident, Gurmail and Dharamraj were apprehended on-site, but Shivkumar managed to evade capture. Shortly after, a social media post under the alias Shubhu Lonkar Maharashtra took responsibility for the incident. Although the post named no high-profile associates, hashtags like #LawrenceBishnoiGroup and #AnmolBishnoi were used. With Dharamraj and Gurmail in custody, a Pune connection became apparent to the Mumbai Police.
Source: aajtak
Why Can't Lawrence Be Brought to Mumbai for Investigation?
The looming question of Lawrence Bishnoi's involvement could only be answered through direct confrontation. However, transferring him from Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Jail to Mumbai has proven difficult. Previously, in Salman Khan's shootout case dated April 14, Mumbai Police faced similar hindrances, with Lawrence listed as the prime accused but beyond their reach. A governmental order under CRPC Section 268(1) restricted his movement for interrogation outside Sabarmati Jail. This directive, initially set to lapse in August 2024, was recently extended.
Source: aajtak
Was Baba Siddiqui Targeted to Establish Lawrence's Influence in Mumbai?
The motive behind Baba Siddiqui's targeting remains unclear. Having maintained no previous conflicts with Lawrence or received threats, his assassination raised eyebrows. Could his connections with Bollywood and political sway have attracted unwanted attention from Lawrence's ambition? According to the charge sheet from Mumbai Police, the desire to dominate Mumbai's landscape might have spurred Lawrence to mark his territory by inciting fear through such high-profile crimes.
