A recent arrest in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district has brought new claims regarding the murder of NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique, who was killed in Mumbai on October 12. Yogesh alias Raju, a 26-year-old member of the Lawrence Bishnoi-Hashim Baba gang, asserted that Siddique had connections with fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and was "not a good man."

Raju, who is in custody for his involvement in the murder of gym owner Nadir Shah in Delhi's Greater Kailash area, was apprehended after being wounded in a police encounter. He was admitted to Mathura District Hospital, where he spoke to reporters, stating, “Baba Siddique was killed because of his associations with criminal elements. He faced charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and had ties to Dawood, who is linked to the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts."

Raju suggested that those who engage with dangerous individuals are bound to face dire consequences. He stated, “These days, with mobile phones and the internet, it’s easy to gather information about anyone.” While denying any direct involvement in the murder case, he mentioned that he communicated only through friends in Delhi.

Commenting on his criminal activities, Raju claimed he was drawn into this lifestyle by the police, stating, “I am a poor man and am being falsely implicated. Cases are being filed against me.” He acknowledged his association with the Hashim Baba gang, which he said has a far-reaching network.

Following treatment for his injuries, police transported Raju to jail. Siddique, aged 66, was shot dead outside his son Zeeshan Siddique's office in Bandra. In the aftermath, five more individuals have been arrested for allegedly supplying firearms and logistical assistance to the shooters involved in Siddique's murder, bringing the total number of arrests in this high-profile case to nine. Authorities noted that the recently arrested suspects had connections with the alleged conspirator Shubham Lonkar and mastermind Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar, who remains at large and is believed to have ties to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.