Bombay High Court seeks State’s reply on Baba Siddique’s murder petition

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra government to respond to a petition filed by Shehzeen Ziauddin Siddique, widow of former minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique, who was shot dead in Bandra East on October 12 last year.

Ms. Siddique moved the High Court on November 7, seeking a court-monitored probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or, alternatively, an independent agency from outside the state, alleging that the current investigation is “biased, tainted and incomplete.”

A Division Bench of Justices Ajey S. Gadkari and Ranjitsinha R. Bhonsale questioned why the Mumbai Police had not recorded Ms. Siddique’s statement despite her being a key witness. The court orally asked, whether the police contacted her after the 40-day grieving period and whether there were any attempt made later, while directing the joint commissioner of police (Crime) and the investigating officer to file affidavits and produce the case diary on the next hearing scheduled for December 11.

Ms. Siddique’s petition claimed that the probe by Nirmal Nagar police was “left halfway and later abandoned” to shield politically connected builders allegedly involved in slum redevelopment projects. The petition named developers Mohit Kamboj, Prithvijeet Rajaram Chavan, Ashok Mundra, and Nabil Patel, alleging that Baba Siddique was a “hurdle” to lucrative SRA projects from Bandra to Andheri and was eliminated for opposing them. A WhatsApp message sent by Chavan to Siddique in July 2024, warning him not to “jeopardize Zeeshan’s political career,” has been cited as evidence of threat.

Advocates Pradip Gharat and Trivankumar Karnani, appearing for Ms. Siddique, told the court that despite repeated requests, the police failed to collect incriminating material from her and others who attended meetings between Mr. Siddique and the builder lobby. They also flagged that after the petition was filed, the security detail of their son Zeeshan, who was allegedly the original target, was downgraded from Y+ cover to just two constables.

Special Public Prosecutor Mahesh Mule submitted that the police had tried to reach Shehzeen but were told by Zeeshan to deal with him or his aides, claiming his mother was unwell. The Bench, however, noted that there was no case diary entry or written statement to support this claim and asked them to show legally admissible evidence of the crime investigation.

The petition also contested the police theory that the killing was ordered by Anmol Bishnoi, brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, calling it a diversion from the real culprits. It alleged that the 5,500-page charge sheet filed in January is “voluminous but misleading,” relying on inadmissible material, failing to conduct identification parades, and mishandling voice samples and mobile seizures. Ms. Siddique further claimed that her own statement was never recorded and accuses the investigating officer of acting under political pressure.

Following the murder, 26 people were arrested under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Baba Siddique was reportedly due for nomination to the Legislative Council, adding a political dimension to the case.