Baba Siddique Murder Case: Son Zeeshan Siddique Alleges Developer Nexus, Police Pressure, and Political Conspiracy

Mumbai Police has filed the charge sheet in the murder case of former MLA Baba Siddique. In his recorded statement to the police, Baba Siddique’s son, and former MLA of the Bandra East Assembly constiturncy, Zeeshan Siddique has alleged the involvement of several prominent figures in the murder of his father, offering crucial insights into the investigation.

"In the Bandra East Assembly constituency, where I serve as MLA, the redevelopment of Dnyaneshwar Nagar slum under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme has witnessed constant injustice towards slum dwellers by developers. I have consistently fought for the rights of citizens, holding protests and representing their concerns. Despite my efforts, Kherwadi Police Station registered a false case against me, even though I had no involvement in the alleged matter,” said Zeeshan Siddiqui.

Baba Siddique’s son further stated, "As a public representative, I advised slum dwellers not to succumb to any pressure and to provide their consent for the SRA survey only if they were fully convinced. Before the survey began, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) leader Anil Parab held a meeting with the slum dwellers, urging them to trust him and approve the developer he recommended. Following this, I conducted another meeting, asking residents to carefully read documents, think critically, and avoid signing anything under duress."

Siddique alleged that developer Prithvi Chavan approached him, assuring that slum dwellers would be provided homes on-site in exchange for their current houses. "I attended a general body meeting with Chavan, his partner Nabeel Patel, Anil Parab, and others, where this assurance was given to the residents," Siddique said.

However, Zeeshan claimed that slum dwellers later discovered misleading clauses in the agreement, which indicated they might be relocated elsewhere in Mumbai. "This caused dissatisfaction among the residents, who informed me that they were being pressured into signing the agreements. On their request, I visited the site and advised them not to sign unless they were fully satisfied. Following this, a false case was filed against me at Kherwadi Police Station," he added.

Zeeshan also alleged that after the case was registered, developer Prithvi Chavan contacted his father, Baba Siddique, and made derogatory remarks, saying he would act as he pleased. He further claimed that police officers arrived at his residence early in the morning and halted a government-funded project in Dnyaneshwar Nagar without any order from the concerned authority. "I believe the developer used police officials to create undue pressure on me," he stated.

In his statement, Siddique named several developers allegedly involved in slum redevelopment injustices, including Prithvi Chavan, Shahid Balwa, Shivalik Ventures, Adani, Nabeel Patel, Vinod Goenka, Parvez Lakdawala, Mundra Builders, Vijay Thakkar, and Omkar Builders. He also mentioned BJP leader Mohit Kamboj’s regular contact with his late father.

Zeeshan revealed that his father, who had a habit of maintaining a daily diary, mentioned Mohit Kamboj’s name on October 12, 2024 the day of his murder. He also stated that a WhatsApp call between Kamboj and his father took place between 5:30 PM and 6:00 PM that day. "Kamboj wanted to meet my father regarding a project by Mundra Builders in Bandra East. I also received videos showing representatives of Mundra Builders using derogatory language against my father," Siddique said.

Significantly, Baba Siddique was scheduled to take his oath as an MLC just two days after his murder. "The circumstances surrounding these events demand a thorough investigation to uncover the truth," Zeeshan told police.​