Baba Siddique, a prominent leader of the Nationalist Congress Party and former MLA, was fatally shot by three assailants at his son Zeeshan’s office in Bandra on Saturday night. After sustaining injuries, Siddique was transported to Lilavati Hospital, where he later died. His passing prompted a number of political leaders and celebrities from the film industry to visit his family and express their condolences. Notable figures such as Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa Shetty, and Salman Khan were among those who paid their respects.
Salman Khan was seen arriving at Lilavati Hospital late Saturday night, having been filming an episode of Bigg Boss when he learned of Siddique’s murder. Reports indicate that he promptly halted production and rushed to the hospital upon receiving the news.
Siddique had a long affiliation with the Congress party, serving for 48 years and representing Bandra West as an MLA for three terms until 2014. Earlier this year, he had joined the faction of the Nationalist Congress Party led by Ajit Pawar.
In Mumbai, Baba Siddique was widely recognized for hosting annual iftaar parties before Eid, which were attended by nearly all of Bollywood. In a notable moment from 2013, he played a key role in reconciling the long-standing conflict between Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan during one of these events.
Regarding the circumstances of his death, Siddique was shot by unidentified assailants at his son’s office in Bandra around 9:30 pm. Witness reports indicated that he was quickly taken to Lilavati Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Authorities have confirmed the arrest of two suspects and stated that the Mumbai Crime Branch is conducting an investigation into the incident. They recovered the weapon used in the shooting, identified as a 9.9mm pistol.