Baba Siddique, a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) and a former three-term MLA, was shot and killed by three assailants in Bandra East on Saturday evening. The incident occurred while the city police were on high alert for two major Dussehra rallies held by the Shiv Sena.
The 66-year-old Siddique sustained several severe injuries and was taken to Lilavati Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. He represented the Bandra West constituency as a Congress MLA from 1999 until 2014 and served as a minister in the Congress-NCP government from 2004 to 2008.
After spending 48 years with the Congress, he switched allegiance to the Ajit Pawar-led NCP earlier this year. Siddique was well known for his dynamic persona and his strong ties with the Bollywood film industry, often hosting high-profile Iftar gatherings that attracted many celebrities.
His assassination ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, scheduled for November, has ignited a political uproar, with opposition parties demanding the resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described the event as “unfortunate” and assured that those responsible would be apprehended.
Police reports indicate that the attackers fired approximately six to seven shots at Siddique as he left his son’s office and was getting into his car. Two bullets struck him in the chest, while one hit his abdomen. A person seated next to him also suffered injuries, according to police sources.
Mumbai’s Special Commissioner of Police, Deven Bharti, visited the scene and confirmed that two suspects had been detained for questioning. The shooting took place around 9:30 PM, and the case has been handed over to the Mumbai Crime Branch. Police have recovered a 9 mm pistol from the scene.
This shooting comes exactly six months after a similar incident at the residence of actor Salman Khan, a close associate of Siddique, which raised concerns over security in the area. Following the recent tragedy, Assembly Opposition Leader Vijay Wadettiwar criticized the government for the escalation of criminal activities in Mumbai and called for a thorough investigation.
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar also extended his condolences, expressing concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra and holding the ruling party accountable.
Siddique began his political career in student politics and served as a corporator in the Mumbai civic body for two consecutive terms in 1992 and 1997. He won the Bandra West Assembly seat as a Congress candidate in 1999 and successfully retained it in 2004 and 2009.
In 2014, he reported assets exceeding ₹75 crore, which included significant real estate holdings. He had previously faced scrutiny from the Enforcement Directorate during a money laundering investigation related to a slum rehabilitation project in 2017.
Local police and crime branch officials are actively searching for a third suspect who escaped the scene. The investigation is looking into various angles, including potential disputes related to the Sant Dnyaneshwar Society SRA project, while a murder case has been officially registered with the Nirmal Nagar police station.