Shocking Details Revealed in Baba Siddique Murder Case: Bishnoi Gang Ordered Hit on Zeeshan or Baba Due to Ties with Salman Khan, Shooter Spent Hour at Crime Scene

The Mumbai Crime Branch on Sunday apprehended Shiv Kumar Gautam, the main shooter in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique. Gautam was arrested in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, after a 21-day manhunt, which led investigators through a complex web of escape routes and criminal connections.

Shocking Details of the Murder and Escape:

In a series of confessions during his interrogation, Gautam provided chilling insights into the planning and execution of the murder on October 12. He disclosed that after shooting Baba Siddique, he did not immediately flee the scene. Instead, Gautam changed his appearance by swapping his T-shirt, blending into the crowd, and remaining at the location for over an hour. Despite being in close proximity, the police were unaware that he was still on site.

Once the chaos of the shooting began to settle, Gautam took an auto-rickshaw to Kurla station, and then continued his journey by local train to Thane. From there, he boarded an express train to Pune, where he arrived around 3 AM. To avoid detection, he discarded his mobile phone and stayed in Pune for nearly a week, before moving to Jhansi. In Jhansi, he spent five days before heading to Lucknow, where he purchased a new phone and re-established contact with his criminal associates. Gautam remained in Lucknow for 11 days before ultimately traveling to Bahraich, where he had been hiding in a safe house prepared by his accomplices.

Gang Links and Execution Orders:

Gautam also revealed that he had been instructed by the Bishnoi gang to assassinate either Baba Siddique or his son, Zeeshan Siddique, with Anmol Bishnoi, a key figure in the gang, directing him to kill whichever one he could find first. Initially, Gautam planned to escape to Ujjain and then to Vaishno Devi before fleeing abroad, but those plans were thwarted.

While on the run, Gautam stayed in touch with another suspect, Anurag Kashyap, using a fellow passenger’s phone. He also coordinated with associates Shubham Lonkar and Zeeshan Akhtar throughout the planning stages.

Police Investigation and Arrest:

The Mumbai Crime Branch, working in close coordination with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), meticulously tracked Gautam’s movements, scrutinizing data on 45 individuals linked to him. Suspicious purchases—such as clothes meant for Gautam—led investigators to focus on four key suspects: Gyanprakash Tripathi, Anurag Kashyap, Akhilendra Pratap Singh, and Akash Srivastava, all of whom had been in regular contact with Gautam. Their activities culminated in the setting of a trap on November 10, when all four were apprehended at a safe house in Bahraich. Gautam was arrested shortly afterward.

Financial Trail and Unrecovered Weapon:

The Crime Branch has also uncovered a financial trail that sheds light on the operation’s funding. Investigators revealed that Rs 2 lakh had been transferred to Anurag Kashyap’s account before the murder, which he then withdrew to purchase the weapon used in the killing. The origin of these funds is currently under investigation. The firearm used in the murder has not yet been recovered.

Additionally, Rs 5 lakh was deposited into the account of Harish Kumar Nishad, another accused, with part of the money originating from multiple locations, including UP, Punjab, and Haryana. The investigation into these financial transactions is ongoing.

Court Orders Custody:

Gautam and the four other accused were presented before the Killa Court on Monday. The court remanded them to police custody until November 19 as the investigation continues to unfold. The Crime Branch is working to piece together the full extent of the conspiracy, including the involvement of the Bishnoi gang and other unknown associates.