LIVE | Baba Siddique murder: Lawrence Bishnoi gang member claims responsibility

Baba Siddique, senior Nationalist Congress Party leader of the Ajit Pawar faction, was shot dead by three men in Mumbai's Bandra East late on Saturday (October 12) evening. Two of the assailants have been arrested.

The former Maharashtra minister, who was 66 years old, was rushed to Lilavati Hospital after being shot. The firing took place outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office near Colgate ground in Nirmal Nagar, an official said.

"Two to three rounds were fired. Further probe is underway as teams have rushed to the area," the official said. Siddique had recently joined the NCP from the Congress.

Prominent Muslim leader

The shocking incident prompted the Opposition to question the law-and-order situation in the state where Assembly elections are expected to be held next month.

Siddique had represented Bandra (West) seat three times in the assembly. A prominent Muslim leader from Mumbai, Siddique was also known be close to several Bollywood stars.

In a condolence message on X, deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar described the attack as extremely unfortunate and condemnable.

"I was shocked on learning that he died in this incident," Pawar said, adding that he had lost a good friend and colleague.

"We have lost a leader who fought for the minority community and championed secularism," he said, adding that a thorough probe would be conducted into the attack.

2 arrested

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said earlier that Mumbai police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar had told him that two alleged shooters have been taken into custody.

One of them is from Uttar Pradesh and the other from Haryana, while a third accused fled from the spot, the chief minister told TV channels.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, arrived at Lilavati Hospital sometime after the incident.

Siddique had joined the Ajit Pawar-led NCP only this year.

Opposition targets Maharashtra govt

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar said the deteriorating law and order situation was worrying. “It was also alarming that the situation was being handled so lightly,” Pawar said as he targeted Home Minister Fadnavis.

The ruling party should take responsibly and quit, the senior Pawar said in his post on X.

Balasaheb Thorat, leader of the Congress legislature party in Maharashtra assembly, said a leader from the ruling party with Y-category security was shot dead, which raises serious questions on the law-and-order situation.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said the murder was shocking.

"This, sadly, reflects on the law-and-order situation in Maharashtra. The complete collapse of administration, law and order," Thackeray said.

NCP working president Praful Patel, a close friend of Siddique, said he was at a loss for words.

BJP leader and former Congressman Ashok Chavan said he had worked with Siddique when both were in the grand old party, adding the news was shocking.

In a post on X, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, the party's in-charge for Maharashtra, said he was deeply shocked at the death of a "dear friend from my Youth Congress days".

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