The brutal murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique has sent shockwaves across the Hindi film industry. Siddique, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, was a dear friend of superstar Salman Khan. He also shared a good bond with other superstars, including Shah Rukh Khan and Sanjay Dutt.
Baba Siddique Shot Dead
The politician, known for his grand iftar parties during Ramadan, was shot dead in Mumbai's Bandra area on Saturday (October 13). Reportedly, two bike-borne assailants opened fire at him while he was visiting his son Zeeshan Siddique's office in the city. He was declared dead at Lilavati Hospital.
After he was rushed to the hospital, Salman cancelled the shoot of his reality show, Bigg Boss 18, and reached there to be with the bereaved family. Other Bollywood celebrities, including Shilpa Shetty, Sanjay Dutt, and Zaheer Iqbal, were also spotted at the hospital.
Salman Khan Death Threats: Is There A Connection?
The Mumbai Police's Crime Branch is currently investigating the murder case. Reportedly, contract killing and business rivalry are among the angles being probed in the killing.
The connection to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has been sending death threats to Salman and his family, is also being examined. Police have already arrested two suspects in the Baba Siddique murder case; however, a direct link to the infamous Bishnoi gang is yet to be established.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Gurmail Baljit Singh (23) from Haryana and 19-year-old Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap, who is a resident of Uttar Pradesh. One more suspect is currently on the run.
Lawrence Bishnoi Gang
The gangster, currently imprisoned in Sabarmati jail, and his aides have been involved in numerous attacks in Indian cities and Canada. In 2022, they killed Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in broad daylight in Punjab, claiming responsibility for the murder through a Facebook post.
Following this, they threatened to murder Salman and his father, Salim Khan. For those unversed, the superstar has been on the gang's radar since the 1999 Blackbuck poaching case. In recent years, the actor's security has been heightened amid increasing death threats.
Earlier this year, two shooters from the group fired five shots outside Khan's Galaxy Apartment in Bandra.
The gang was also involved in the fire outside Punjabi singer AP Dhillon's residence in Vancouver and the attack on Punjabi actor Gippy Grewal’s home in Canada.
The Mumbai Police is currently trying to connect the dots, and further details are awaited.