‘Co-conspirator’ held from Pune in Baba Siddique murder case; 3rd arrest so far

Mumbai: The Mumbai police have arrested a 28-year-old man from Pune who along with his brother “enlisted” two of the three alleged shooters in the Baba Siddique murder case, an official said on Sunday.

Police called the man, Pravin Lonkar, a “co-conspirator” and said they are on the lookout for his brother Shubham Lonkar. This is the third arrest in the case.

According to the crime branch official, Pravin and Shubham “enlisted” two alleged shooters, a UP resident and Shivkumar Gautam.

While Gautam is on the run, police have arrested the UP resident and another alleged shooter, identified as Gurmail Baljit Singh (23).

The official said police went to Pune looking for Shubham Lonkar but did not find him there. They then nabbed his brother Pravin for his alleged involvement in the crime, he said.

NCP leader Siddique (66) was waylaid by three persons at Kher Nagar in Mumbai’s Bandra area just outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique’s office and shot at on Saturday night. He was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital where he was declared dead, according to Mumbai police.

Police have recovered two bullets and 28 live bullets were recovered from the two apprehended shooters.

Police have set up 15 teams which have fanned out of Maharashtra and a probe is on to identify who provided logistical support to the shooters, officials have said.

The Mumbai Police are verifying a social media post, attributed to a purported member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, owning up to the murder of Siddique.

The crime branch is also probing various angles, including a possible contract killing, business or political rivalry or threat over a slum rehabilitation project, according to officials.