Latest news with #ZeeshanSiddique
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Link Square owner, agency face legal action for blaze
MUMBAI: The Mumbai Fire Brigade has initiated legal proceedings against the owner of Link Square mall, former MLA Zeeshan Siddique, and Indian Fire Safety System, a certifying agency, for the massive blaze that gutted the shopping complex in Bandra West on April 29. The move follows the submission of a comprehensive, final inquiry report on the blaze, to municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, by chief fire officer (CFO) Ravindra Ambulgekar, on Wednesday. 'As per section 3 of Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, it is the responsibility of the owner owner/occupied to keep the fire safety system in the building operational, even though the said system was inoperative at the time of the incident. The said system was not functional in the fire that broke out. Therefore the fault lies mainly with Indian Fire Safety System appointed by Link Square Care Co Ltd. Hence, legal action is already initiated against both parties,' said a senior fire official. The report reveals serious failures in fire safety systems, a delayed emergency response, and critical design lapses in the shopping complex. According to the report, the fire began at 2:30am on April 29 on the lower ground floor, but was only reported to the fire brigade at 3:55am by security guards and workers. This 90-minute delay significantly worsened the situation, with fire calls escalating from Level 1 at 4:17 am to Level 4 by 6:25 am. According to the key findings in the report, fire safety systems were non-functional despite a compliance certificate issued in January 2025 by the contractor, Indian Fire Safety System. The mechanical ventilation system in the basement was non-operational, severely hindering smoke clearance. The building's glass facade lacked mandatory ventilation openings, trapping heat and smoke. The emergency exits were either blocked or inaccessible. Highly flammable materials, including electronics, garments and cosmetics were stored in dense clusters, accelerating the fire spread. Firefighters faced thick smoke, intense heat and poor visibility, making entry from all directions extremely difficult. BA (breathing apparatus) teams were repeatedly forced to withdraw due to dangerous conditions. Despite the deployment of over 10 water hose lines, and the involvement of senior fire officials, the fire escalated to the building's upper levels, severely damaging its structure. On May 2, a joint site inspection was carried out by the joint commissioner (vigilance) and senior officials from the fire and building departments of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). While no unauthorised construction was found and structural layouts matched approved plans, the fire exposed glaring lapses in safety maintenance and emergency preparedness. Aftab Siddique, a local civic activist from Linking Road, where the shopping complex is located, claimed, 'The number of affected units inside the complex is 390, not 210, as initially reported. Well-known restaurants like Tap and Global Fusion were completely destroyed. Each unit has suffered massive financial losses. Everything was reduced to ashes.' Despite repeated calls and messages, Zeeshan Siddique, former MLA and the owner of Link Square, was unavailable for comment.
Indian Express
24-04-2025
- Indian Express
Mumbai crime branch takes over Zeeshan Siddique threat mail case
The probe into the threat mail received by former MLA Zeeshan Siddique was on Thursday transferred to the Mumbai crime branch. The case had earlier been registered by the Bandra police that was probing the matter. However, since the Baba Siddique case was being investigated by the Mumbai crime branch, this case too was handed over to them. A senior police officer confirmed that the probe had been handed over to the Mumbai crime branch on Thursday. The crime branch will register a fresh FIR in the matter and carry out investigations. Earlier, police sources had said that the IP address of the server through which the mail had been sent had been traced to a country located near the US. Police said that they were checking if the location had been manipulated through the Virtual Private Network (VPN) or if the mail had actually been generated from that country. In the threat mails that Zeeshan received earlier this week, the person demanded Rs 10 crore as ransom, failing which, the sender threatened he would meet the same fate as his father Baba Siddique. The NCP leader was gunned down in October last year allegedly by members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The sender sent him reminder emails every six hours, which prompted Zeeshan Siddique to approach the Bandra police, which registered an FIR. Last year, threat mails sent to actor Salman Khan were found to have originated in the UK. In that case, police had found it was an Indian student who had gone to the UK to study, who sent the mail as a prank, following which a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him. The moment he lands in India, the police will be alerted and the person will be arrested.
Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Indian Express
Threat emails to Zeeshan Siddique traced to server near US: Police
THE MUMBAI police, probing the threat emails received by former MLA and NCP leader Zeeshan Siddique, have been traced to a server located in a country near the US. The sender of the mails claims to be linked to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim's 'D Company'. Police said prima facie the person sending the mails doesn't appear to be linked to any gang. Police are, however, conducting further technical probe to confirm the server they have tracked down is the one used by the accused and not one obtained via Virtual Private Network (VPN). In the threat mails that Zeeshan received over two days, the person demanded Rs 10 crore as ransom failing the sender threatened he would meet the same fate as his father Baba Siddique, who was gunned down in October last year allegedly by members of the Bisnoi gang. The sender sent him reminder emails every six hours, which prompted him to approach the Bandra police who registered an FIR against unidentified persons. A police source said, 'The server from which the email was sent has been traced to a country near America. It appears to be the actual server from which the mail was sent and not one obtained through VPN though we are still reconfirming that.' When asked if the sender was linked to any gang, the officer said prima facie he does not appear to be linked to any gang or organisation. However, we are not taking any chances and have reviewed the security of Zeeshan in light of the threat, the officer added. Last year, threat mails sent to actor Salman Khan were found to have originated in the UK. In that case, the police had found it was an Indian student who had gone to the UK to study, who sent the mail as a prank following which a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him. The moment he lands in India, the police will be alerted and the person will be arrested. The officer said, 'On several occasions people based abroad, especially those of Indian origin, feel if they send an email from another country, they will not be traced or land in trouble. It is, however, not true and we take proper legal action to ensure that whenever the person tries to move out of that country, they are detained at the airport.'
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Sender was connected to VPN when he emailed Zeeshan Siddique: Police
MUMBAI: The Bandra police have increased the security cover of the former NCP MLA Zeeshan Siddique and deployed six additional police personnel at his Bandra residence from Tuesday, in light of the recent threats he received from 'D-Company' on his email. The police said the sender had used Virtual Private Network (VPN) to send the three emails - one a day from Saturday night to Monday evening. Siddique was given Y security but had demanded for an increase in the police protection for his family. Two additional officers with four constables from the Bandra police station are now deployed in two shifts at his residence for protection round the clock. The police have registered an FIR under sections 308 (extortion) and 351 (threatening) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and are teaming up with the cyber police to trace the sender. 'This is the first time a threat like this is coming from the D-Company through email. It could be a prank, but we are taking it seriously and trying to extract the IP address of the sender, said a senior officer. 'Once the cyber police provide us with the details, a police team can soon trace the accused,' he said. The first email sent on Saturday demanded protection money of ₹10 crore, failing which he would be killed. 'The subsequent emails were reminders of it and had the same content,' said a police officer. In his statement, Siddique said he did not check his inbox on Saturday and Sunday. He learnt about the emails on Monday after seeing a reminder notification. Zeeshan's father, former minister Baba Siddique, was shot by three assailants outside his son's office in Bandra East on October 12 last year.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Time of India
Crack team trained for threats to boost Zeeshan's Y+ cover
Mumbai: A quick response team (QRT) of 56 police personnel trained in handling emergencies, terrorist threats and high-risk situations will now bolster the Y-plus security provided to former MLA Zeeshan Siddique , who received three death threat emails over two days. Zeeshan was given the VIP Y-plus cover, consisting of 11 personnel, by the state intelligence department following his father and NCP politician Baba Siddique's murder on Oct 12, said JCP (law and order) Satyanarayan Chaudhari. In the emails, Zeeshan was warned that he would "meet his father's fate" if he failed to pay up Rs 10 crore. Police sources said an internal assessment is underway to determine his appropriate security category, which could be upgraded to Z-plus, depending on the perceived threat level. A QRT is usually made up of eight assistant police inspectors or police sub-inspectors and 48 policemen. Zeeshan's security setup includes stationed guards inside and outside his residence, personal guards with guns for family members, and regular Bandra police patrol teams. "The QRT will keep a watch on the residential locality," said a police officer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Bandra police, who lodged an FIR on extortion following the former MLA's complaint on Monday, and cybercrime teams are tracing the email sender's IP address but they suspect proxy servers were used to cover the tracks. While the emails had claimed to be from Dawood Ibrahim's gang, Zeeshan told TOI, "I do not know who could be behind the threats." Questioning their timing, he said, "They came just two days after a court allowed my mother's intervention plea in my father's murder case."
