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India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Court denies bail to photographer in Baba Siddique murder case: He aided killers
A special court in Mumbai on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of 27-year-old Chetan Dilip Paradhi, accused in the high-profile murder case of former MLA Baba Siddique, observing that he knowingly assisted the assailants and facilitated their operations at the behest of gangster Anmol a photographer from Thane, is Accused No. 7 in the case and is currently in judicial custody. He is alleged to have harboured the two shooters involved in the killing and provided them with logistical support, including shelter and practice space for dismissing his bail application, Additional Sessions Judge Mahesh K Jadhav, presiding over the Special MCOCA Court, held that Paradhi failed to meet the stringent twin conditions for bail under Section 21(4) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The court cited two confessional statements submitted in the case, which indicated that Paradhi "with knowledge provided assistance and rendered his service to the gang leader Anmol Bishnoi for facilitating the murder of Baba Siddiqui".Appearing for Paradhi, advocate Amey Pitale argued that his client was a working photographer with no criminal intent or knowledge of the conspiracy. The defence claimed Paradhi merely gave a lift to acquaintances and that the mobile phone seized from him was broken, lacked a SIM card, and contained no recoverable data. They also highlighted procedural gaps, including the absence of a test identification parade and inconsistencies in witness Special Public Prosecutor Mahesh Mule and Advocate Pradip Gharat, representing Siddique's wife, strongly opposed the bail plea. They presented call data records, Paradhi's own recovery memorandum, and the confessions of the co-accused as evidence of his direct role in aiding the shooters, identified as Shivkumar and Dharmaraj, who were allegedly dispatched by Bishnoi to execute the Jadhav further noted that Paradhi had prior criminal antecedents and a history of association with the co-accused in earlier cases. "There are reasonable grounds for believing that the accused is guilty of such an offence," the court Paradhi's claim of accidental or peripheral involvement, the court concluded that he had actively facilitated the crime by knowingly sheltering the shooters and enabling their preparation, including shooting Baba Siddique's son, Zeeshan Siddique, has also received multiple death threats referencing the broad daylight murder of his father which took place in October last year. - EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Mumbai#Nationalist Congress Party#Maharashtra
Indian Express
01-08-2025
- Indian Express
Threat emails to Zeeshan Siddique: prankster held at Mumbai airport on return from Trinidad and Tobago
The Crime Branch of the Mumbai police on Friday morning arrested a man returning from Trinidad and Tobago for allegedly sending threatening emails to former MLA Zeeshan Siddique, the son of the late Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique. The accused, identified as Bihar native Mohammad Dilshad Naved, was held at the international airport in Mumbai. A police officer said that soon after the threatening emails were received last year, the police had identified Naved as the culprit and issued a Look Out Circular against him. Naved had gone to the Caribbean island nation to work at his uncle's shop there, a senior officer revealed. 'He saw some videos on social media regarding the murder of Baba Siddique. As a prank, he sent several emails to Zeeshan Siddique, threatening him. Naved thought that since he was so far away, law enforcement agencies would not apprehend him,' the senior officer said. Baba Siddique was shot dead by members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang on October 12 last year. Officers said that the email threats were sent to Zeeshan's official email ID on April 19 this year, followed by several more over the next two days. The sender allegedly demanded Rs 10 crore and mentioned the Dawood Ibrahim gang. Investigators said the accused probably believed that he might earn some money in this manner. Subsequently, Zeeshan filed a complaint at the Bandra police station. Last year, threat emails sent to actor Salman Khan were found to have originated in the United Kingdom. In that case, the police allegedly found that the accused was an Indian student who had gone to the UK to study and sent the email as a prank, following which a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him. The person will be arrested when he lands in India. The officer said that people based abroad, especially those of Indian origin, feel that if they send a threatening email from another country, they will not land in trouble. 'That is, however, not true. We take proper legal action to ensure that whenever such a person tries to move out of that country, they are detained at the airport,' he added.
India Gazette
07-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Attempt to misuse late NCP leader Baba Siddique's mobile number foiled: one arrested from Delhi
New Delhi [India], July 7 (ANI): Mumbai's Bandra Police has arrested a man from Delhi for allegedly attempting to activate a new SIM card using the mobile number of late Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former MLA Baba Siddique, who was recently murdered in October 2024. The accused, a resident of Delhi's Burari area, has previous cases of cybercrime registered against him. He is accused of trying to activate Baba Siddique's mobile number on a different SIM card with the intent to commit fraud. There are already two cases registered against the accused in Mumbai. Following Baba Siddique's death, his family kept his mobile number active as it was linked to his ongoing business operations. On June 24, an email was received in the name of Baba Siddique's wife, Shahzeen Siddique, seeking information related to the official ownership and authorisation of the mobile number. The email was accompanied by documents including Shahzeen Siddique's Aadhaar card, PAN card, GST number, and the letterhead of the family's company. The accused allegedly planned to use these forged documents to activate the number on another SIM card and execute fraudulent activities. However, the concerned telecom company alerted the family via email after receiving the suspicious application. Baba Siddique's daughter, Dr. Arshia, was also copied in the communication, which raised the family's suspicion about the chances of fraud. Subsequently, a complaint was filed at the Bandra Police Station. An FIR has been registered under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 319(2) (cheating), Section 62 (attempt to commit a cognizable offence), Section 335 (forgery of documents), Sections 336(2) and 336(3) (forgery of records), and Section 340(2) (misrepresentation of electronic records as genuine). The accused, identified as Vivek Sabharwal, was arrested by the Mumbai Police from Delhi. Preliminary investigations suggest that the case is linked to a cyber fraud group. (ANI)
Mint
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Big update in Baba Siddique murder case: Accused Zeeshan Akhtar arrested in Canada
Zeeshan Akhtar, a prime accused in the murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique, has been arrested in Canada, Maharashtra's Minister of State for Home Affairs, Yogesh Kadam, confirmed on Wednesday. The 22-year-old was apprehended in connection with a fake passport case, according to sources close to the investigation. 'Zeeshan, who was involved in the Baba Siddiqui murder case, has been arrested in Canada. We have initiated the process to bring him back to India. We will interrogate him further (after bringing him back),' Kadam told PTI Videos, highlighting the authorities' intent to expedite his extradition and deepen the probe. Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister and prominent NCP leader, was fatally shot in the Bandra area of Mumbai on 12 October 2024. The high-profile assassination sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Maharashtra, prompting a swift and intensive police investigation. So far, law enforcement agencies have arrested at least 25 individuals linked to the case, including key figures believed to have orchestrated the killing. According to Mumbai Police, the murder contract was allegedly given by Anmol Bishnoi, brother of the notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, to Zeeshan Akhtar and another accused, Shubham Lonkar. The Bishnoi gang has been under intense scrutiny for its involvement in various criminal activities, and this case has further spotlighted their alleged role in political assassinations. The arrest of Zeeshan Akhtar in Canada marks a significant breakthrough in the investigation, especially as he had reportedly been evading Indian authorities by using forged travel documents. The fake passport case has provided a crucial lead for the police to track and detain him abroad. Efforts are now underway to secure Zeeshan's extradition to India, where he will face interrogation and legal proceedings related to the murder. The Maharashtra government and police officials have expressed determination to bring all conspirators to justice and dismantle the criminal networks behind the assassination.
News18
11-06-2025
- News18
Did Zeeshan Akhtar Use Forged Passport To Escape To Canada? Mumbai Police Probing All Angles
Last Updated: The Mumbai Crime Branch is coordinating with Canadian authorities to initiate Akhtar's extradition and bring him back to India to face trial in Baba Siddique murder case. Mumbai Police's Crime Branch is investigating how Zeeshan Akhtar, the alleged mastermind behind the murder of former Maharashtra minister and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) leader Baba Siddique, managed to flee the country. Officials suspect that Akhtar may have used a forged passport to exit India, possibly taking an illegal route through Nepal before landing in Canada, where he was recently detained. Akhtar had been on the run since Siddique's murder and was wanted by both the Mumbai and Jalandhar Police, prompting the issuance of Red Corner Notices (RCNs) through Interpol. His arrest in Canada marks a breakthrough in the months-long manhunt. The Mumbai Crime Branch is now coordinating with Canadian authorities to initiate extradition proceedings and bring him back to India to face trial. According to police sources, Akhtar, whose real name is Mohammad Yasin Akhtar and hails from Jalandhar in Punjab, played a central role in the conspiracy. Investigations reveal that he not only orchestrated the plot with co-accused Shubham Lonkar but also maintained direct contact with the shooters involved in the killing. He is said to have arranged logistics and provided instructions to the hitmen, including facilitating the travel of one of the key shooters, Gurmel Singh, from Haryana to Mumbai. Akhtar's alleged gang connections further complicate the case. He is known to be closely associated with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and is suspected to be a member of the Vikram Brar gang. His criminal record includes a previous arrest by Punjab Police in 2022, indicating a history of serious offences. At one point during the investigation, a video surfaced in which Akhtar claimed to be hiding in Pakistan. However, police now believe that the clip may have been deliberately circulated to mislead investigators and divert attention from his actual whereabouts. This claim has prompted authorities to explore whether there were any efforts from Pakistan to shield him from Indian law enforcement. As the Crime Branch probes how Akhtar escaped and potential cross-border links, efforts are being intensified to dismantle the broader network behind Siddique's murder and ensure justice is served. First Published: June 11, 2025, 10:02 IST
