The name of Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, has emerged as the main conspirator in the killing of NCP leader Baba Siddique, the Mumbai police told a special court here. The police made the claim on Tuesday while seeking the remand of eight accused in the case, citing provisions of the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Special MCOCA court judge A M Patil remanded the eight accused, including the alleged main shooter Shivkumar Gautam, in police custody till December 7.
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MAHARASHTRA: The Mumbai Police have identified Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother of incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, as the primary conspirator in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique.
This revelation was made during a special court hearing, where the police sought the remand of eight accused under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
Key Details from the Case
On October 12, 66-year-old Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister, was tragically shot dead outside his son Zeeshan Siddique’s office building in Bandra East, Mumbai. The attack, carried out by three assailants, resulted in Siddique sustaining two bullet injuries to the chest. Despite being rushed to Lilavati Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
During the investigation, Mumbai Police uncovered significant evidence implicating Anmol Bishnoi, who was recently detained in the United States and is currently lodged in a prison there.
The police informed the court that Bishnoi played a pivotal role in orchestrating the crime and is listed as a wanted accused in the case.
Financial and Communication Links
According to police statements, Anmol Bishnoi provided financial support to the other accused individuals.
They emphasized the need for a detailed investigation into the source and utilization of these funds. Police also revealed that Bishnoi had contacted co-accused members through a communication app, which necessitated further probing.
This aspect was presented as one of the reasons for requesting the custody of the arrested individuals.
Legal Developments and Remand Hearing
A total of 26 individuals have been arrested so far in connection with the murder, including the alleged main shooter, Shivkumar Gautam. The MCOCA provisions were invoked against all 26 accused on November 30, after which they were produced in court. On Tuesday, the Special MCOCA Court Judge A.M. Patil remanded eight of the accused, including Gautam, into police custody until December 7.
The police argued that deeper investigation was necessary, especially into the roles of these individuals and their connections to the larger conspiracy. However, defence lawyers Roopesh Jaiswal, Ajinkya Mirgal, and Dilip Shukla opposed the remand, asserting that the accused had already been in custody for over 40 days.
The lawyers contended,
“The MCOCA provisions are not applicable as there is no evidence of the accused being part of an organized gang or having prior criminal records.”
They further stated that there was no proof of the group being linked to previous charge sheets, a critical requirement to invoke the MCOCA.
Despite these objections, the court granted the police’s request, remanding the eight accused to custody for further investigation. Meanwhile, the remaining individuals were sent to 14-day judicial custody.
Sensitive Proceedings and Media Restriction
Before the hearing commenced, the presiding judge directed journalists to exit the courtroom following objections from the prosecution.
They argued that the remand application contained sensitive information that could not be disclosed publicly.
Wanted Accused in the Case
In addition to Anmol Bishnoi, another suspect, Shubham Lonkar, has been declared a wanted accused.
The investigation remains ongoing, with the authorities working to uncover all facets of the conspiracy and its execution.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Lawrence Bishnoi
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