Lawrence Bishnoi gang member provided weapons to Baba Siddique's killers: Cops

The main target, as confirmed by the police, was not Zeeshan Siddiqui but Baba Siddiqui. The shooters were given a photograph of Baba Siddiqui along with a flex banner to identify him.

In Short

• Shooters received Rs 50,000 for expenses, promised larger reward
• Baba Siddiqui was the main target, not his son Zeeshan Siddique
• Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the murder

Shubham Lonkar, who made a social media post claiming responsibility for the murder on behalf of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, supplied weapons to the shooters responsible for the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddiqui.

Shubham's brother, Pravin Lonkar, played a pivotal role in providing both financial and logistical support to the shooters. The two brothers, along with several accomplices, held multiple meetings in Pune to plan the murder.

The 66-year-old leader was shot dead while leaving his office for his residence in Bandra West on Saturday night. A total of six rounds of bullets were fired at Baba Siddique, three of which struck him. The NCP leader was declared dead after being taken to the hospital.

Sources revealed that a meeting between Shubham Lonkar, Shiv, Dharmaraj, and Gurmail Singh took place in Pune to finalise details of the murder. Though no specific amount was promised to the shooters initially, they were assured a significant sum after the successful execution of the murder. Each shooter was, however, given Rs 50,000 upfront for expenses related to the operation.

The main target, as confirmed by the police, was not Zeeshan Siddiqui but Baba Siddiqui. The shooters were given a photograph of Baba Siddiqui along with a flex banner to identify him. "There was no fixed amount promised, but they were assured a big reward," an investigator familiar with the case said.

The shooters arrived in Mumbai in September, with Dharmaraj and Shiv Kumar coming first, and Gurmail Singh joining them later from Haryana. The attackers reportedly fired at the NCP leader from a distance of six to seven feet, with Dharmaraj using pepper spray to escape the scene.

After shooting Baba Siddique, Dharmaraj Kashyap used pepper spray in the air to create a diversion and flee the scene. Despite the chaos, the shooters managed to escape initially.

The police are currently investigating the authenticity of social media posts claiming responsibility for the murder. Both Facebook and Instagram have been contacted to verify if the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was involved as claimed.

Authorities are still searching for another suspect, Shiv, and the alleged mastermind, Mohammad Zeeshan Akhtar, who remain at large.