Key Accused in Baba Siddique Murder Case Arrested in Canada; Maharashtra Govt Initiates Extradition
Zeeshan Akhtar, a key accused in the murder of senior NCP leader Baba Siddique, has been arrested in Canada, Maharashtra minister Yogesh Kadam confirmed on Wednesday night.
The 22-year-old was reportedly detained in connection with a fake passport case, sources told news agency PTI. The state government has already begun the process to extradite Akhtar to India for further interrogation and legal proceedings. “Zeeshan, who was involved in the Baba Siddique murder case, has been arrested in Canada. We have initiated the process to bring him back to India,” said Kadam.
Background: Baba Siddique Murder Case On the night of October 12, 2024, Baba Siddique was gunned down near his son and MLA Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Mumbai’s Khernagar area, Bandra East. Around 9:15 pm, three assailants opened fire; the main shooter, Shivkumar Gautam, allegedly fired six bullets, three of which struck Siddique in the upper body. He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries within an hour.
Soon after the attack, two other accused—Dharmaraj Kashyap and Gurmail Singh—were arrested, leading to a broader crackdown involving 24 more arrests. According to the charge sheet, the murder was allegedly orchestrated by Anmol Bishnoi, brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Anmol is accused of hiring Zeeshan Akhtar and another accomplice, Shubham Lonkar, to execute the killing as part of a larger attempt to assert dominance in Mumbai’s underworld.
Zeeshan Siddique has alleged in his police statement that political and real estate figures with interests in slum rehabilitation projects may also be linked to the murder conspiracy. His statement has been included in the official charge sheet.
The arrest of Zeeshan Akhtar in Canada is a significant breakthrough in the case, as it brings the authorities closer to solving the murder and bringing the perpetrators to justice. The extradition process is expected to be lengthy but the Maharashtra government is committed to ensuring that all those involved in the crime face the legal consequences of their actions.
