October 14, 2024: The Esplanade court in Mumbai has remanded Pravin Lonkar, the third accused in the high-profile Baba Siddique murder case, to police custody until October 21. Lonkar, who was arrested by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch on Sunday from Pune, is implicated in the conspiracy to kill the prominent Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader.
NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was fatally shot outside his office in Nirmal Nagar. Despite being rushed to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital, Siddique succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds on Saturday night. His last rites were conducted on Sunday at Bada Qabrastan with full state honors.
Lonkar, aged 28, is the brother of Shubham Lonkar, another key figure involved in the murder plot. Both brothers allegedly conspired with Dharmaraj Kashyap and Shivkumar Gautam to carry out the assassination. Mumbai Police officials confirmed that the motive behind the murder and the involvement of all parties are still under investigation.
During the interrogation, it was revealed that Baba Siddique’s son, Zeeshan Siddique, was also a target in the murder plot. According to police sources, the accused had been contracted to kill both Baba and Zeeshan Siddique, with orders to fire at anyone they encountered during the attack. Zeeshan had reportedly received threats days before the fatal shooting of his father.
Meanwhile, the ossification test of Dharmaraj Kashyap, another accused in the case, confirmed that he is not a minor. This test, which determines age based on bone fusion, was conducted by the Mumbai Police to resolve questions about his age status.
Conclusion: As investigations into the tragic murder of Baba Siddique continue, the arrest of Pravin Lonkar and the revelations about the plot targeting both Baba and Zeeshan Siddique have intensified the case. Police remain committed to bringing all responsible parties to justice.
