A senior politician in Mumbai, India’s financial capital, was shot dead on Saturday, just weeks before crucial state elections.
Police are investigating the involvement of a notorious crime gang in the murder.
Baba Siddique, 66, a prominent local lawmaker and former Maharashtra state minister, was fatally shot multiple times in the chest outside his son’s office in Mumbai, according to Indian media reports.
Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar, a member of the same political party as Siddique, expressed his shock over the “cowardly attack.”
The Hindustan Times reported that two suspects had been arrested, while police continue to search for a third individual.
Broadcaster NDTV revealed that the arrested suspects claimed affiliation with a gang led by Lawrence Bishnoi, a notorious criminal currently in jail and accused of orchestrating several killings.
This attack occurred just weeks after Siddique’s security was enhanced following death threats, and it comes ahead of elections set for later this year.
“The incident will be thoroughly investigated, and severe action will be taken against the attackers,” Pawar said in a statement. “The mastermind behind this attack will also be tracked down.”
Siddique, known for his close ties to several Bollywood stars and for hosting lavish parties, had been a well-known figure in Maharashtra’s political and social circles.
The killing draws parallels to a similar high-profile assassination in 2023, when politician Atiq Ahmad was shot dead on live television in Uttar Pradesh.
Ahmad, who had over 100 criminal cases against him, was killed alongside his brother, Ashraf, while being escorted by police for a medical checkup.
This occurred just days after Ahmad’s son, Asad, was killed by police in what many considered an extrajudicial action.