The evening had barely progressed by an hour and a half in Mumbai when the sound of gunfire shattered Bandra's usual hustle and bustle. NCP leader Baba Siddique met a shocking fate as he was publicly shot dead. News of this brazen assassination spread through Mumbai like wildfire. The police suspect it was a contract killing, as two arrested individuals are merely the gunmen. They suspect the third, still at large, was the one who contracted Baba Siddique's murder.
The incident occurred during a festive night of Vijayadashami. As folks burst fireworks near Baba Siddique's Bandra office, three armed men seized the moment between 9:15 and 9:20 PM, descending from a vehicle with handkerchief-covered faces and opening fire amidst the noise.
The assailants fired six rounds, three of which found their target—Baba Siddique. Seeing him fall to the ground, bystanders rushed him to Lilavati Hospital, where the doctors confirmed their worst fears: Baba Siddique was no more.
As soon as the Mumbai police were alerted, they sprung into action, arriving promptly at the scene. While two suspects were apprehended, a third managed to escape. Among the arrested are a man from Uttar Pradesh and another from Haryana. Upon learning about the attack, Deputy CM and Maharashtra's Home Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, made their way to Lilavati Hospital.
The police are delving into the murder's motive. Speculation revolves around a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) issue that Baba and his legislator son Zeeshan opposed, which could've incited the heinous act. In 2018, the Enforcement Directorate attached properties worth approximately 462 crore rupees linked to Baba Siddique.
The roots of the contract and its patron remain veiled in mystery, contradicting earlier reports of Baba Siddique receiving threats. Police disclosed that contrary to rumors, he hadn't been threatened or provided with any tier of security. It circulated that he received 'Y' category protection; however, Mumbai Police had only assigned two officers due to his status as a former minister and his son's legislative position within the ruling NCP (AP).
A three-time MLA, Siddique had recently switched allegiance from Congress to NCP, marking a profound political shift. Within and outside party lines, leaders mourned his demise. Meanwhile, some opposition voices expressed concern over Maharashtra's law and order state. Siddique’s close ally and NCP's working president Praful Patel lamented his loss beyond words.
Leader Ashok Chavan, who transitioned from Congress to BJP, recalled their shared efforts within the old party, expressing personal shock over the news.
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, in an X-post, stated his deep shock over losing a cherished companion from his Youth Congress days. NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar remarked on the deteriorating state of law and order in Maharashtra.
Criticism directed towards the Eknath Shinde government came from former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, the opposition leader in the assembly, who expressed astonishment over the assassination of a leader supposedly under 'Y' category security.
No gang has claimed responsibility for Baba Siddique's assassination yet. The culprits used a 9.9mm pistol to carry out this attack. The challenge for the Mumbai police is immense, with the urgency to solve this high-profile murder quickly. However, the stakes are even higher for the Shinde government as they face looming elections—this political slaying could fuel intense debate as the assembly elections approach in Maharashtra.