Siddique’s murder could be pre-planned: Police

The murder Siddique is suspected to be a pre-planned act, a Mumbai police official said on Sunday.

Police have also said the crime branch has launched a probe into the case from different angles, including a possible contract killing, business rivalry or threat over a slum rehabilitation project.

The latter pertains to the dispute over the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project.

While two of the alleged assailants have been arrested, another accused is on the run and efforts are on to trace him, police said.

The arrested accused have been identified as Gurmail Baljit Singh (23), resident of Haryana, and Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap (19), native of Uttar Pradesh, as per the police.

A case has been registered against the three accused under relevant Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections, including for murder, as well as provisions of the Arms Act and the Maharashtra Police Act, they said.

Multiple teams have been set up by the Mumbai police for a probe into the case.