Baba Siddique, a former minister in Maharashtra, has been shot dead in Mumbai. The incident occurred outside his son’s office, where he was reportedly shot multiple times in the chest on Saturday.
According to NDTV, Siddique was getting into his car when three assailants approached on foot and opened fire. He sustained severe injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Lilavati Hospital, sources confirmed to The Times of India. Fortunately, no one else was injured during the attack, and police are currently reviewing CCTV footage to piece together the events leading up to the shooting.
The 66-year-old politician, known for his extravagant parties, was preparing for state elections scheduled for next month. Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, who is affiliated with the same political party as Siddique, expressed his shock on social media, calling the attack “cowardly.”
Pawar described Siddique as a leader beloved by many and shared his personal sorrow at the loss of a dear friend. “We are heartbroken and struggling to comprehend the brutality of this incident,” he stated. He emphasized the importance of not politicizing the tragedy, urging unity and compassion instead of division during this difficult time. “This is not just a political loss; it’s a personal tragedy that has affected us all,” he added.
In the wake of the shooting, the Hindustan Times reported that two suspects have been arrested, while a third is still at large. The arrested individuals allegedly belong to a gang led by Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently incarcerated for orchestrating multiple killings.
Baba Siddique had recently left his 48-year affiliation with the Congress party to join the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2009 and held various ministerial roles, including as the Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies, Labour, and FDA from 2004 to 2008. Additionally, he was a municipal corporator for two terms from 1992 to 1997 and served as chairperson and senior vice-president of both the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee and the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.
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