Baba Siddique’s murder case: Nine arrested, son calls for justice through cryptic message
New Delhi: The investigation into the murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique has intensified, with the number of arrests rising to nine. On Friday, his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique, shared a cryptic message on X (formerly Twitter), prompting speculation about the ongoing situation.
On the same day, Zeeshan Siddique met with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also oversees the home department in the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led government. During the meeting, Zeeshan was updated on the police investigation into his father's murder.
Following the meeting, Zeeshan expressed his desire for justice, urging that his father’s death should not be politicized or go unavenged. Baba Siddique was shot near Zeeshan's office in Nirmal Nagar, Bandra, Mumbai, on October 12.
The police have apprehended nine suspects so far, including five who were arrested on Friday during raids in Panvel and Karjat in the neighboring Raigad district.
Amid the ongoing investigation, a shooter linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang made controversial claims regarding Siddique’s character, suggesting he had ties to notorious criminal Dawood Ibrahim. Yogesh alias Raju, 26, affiliated with both the Lawrence Bishnoi and Hashim Baba gangs, stated, “Charges were against him under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). When individuals associate with people like Dawood, adverse outcomes are likely.”
In a related development, the Mumbai police have heightened security for Bollywood actor Salman Khan following threats received after Siddique's murder. Police reported that Khan received a demand for ₹5 crore, purportedly to resolve his conflicts with the incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The message ominously warned that failing to comply would lead to Khan's fate being "worse than Baba Siddique's."
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
