Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, a prominent leader of Ajit Pawar's NCP, was tragically shot and killed by three men in Mumbai on Saturday evening. The 66-year-old politician was shot in both the stomach and chest while celebrating Dussehra outside his son and Maharashtra MLA Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Bandra East. Despite being rushed to Lilavati Hospital, Siddique succumbed to his injuries later that night.

According to police, two suspects, Karnail Singh and Dharamraj Kashyap, have been arrested in connection with the attack. During questioning, they allegedly claimed affiliation with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and admitted to tracking Siddique’s movements for about a month. The third suspect is still at large, and authorities are working to apprehend him.

Image of one suspect arrested in Baba Siddique's killing.

The shooting took place around 9:30 p.m., when Siddique was setting off firecrackers. The attackers emerged from a vehicle with their faces covered and fired three shots from a 9.9 mm pistol, one of which fatally struck Siddique. Bullet casings were recovered from the scene, and damage to the windshield of Siddique’s car confirmed that multiple shots were fired.

Siddique was declared dead at 11:27 p.m. after efforts to save him failed due to severe blood loss. His body was later transferred to Cooper Hospital for an autopsy.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde condemned the attack and assured swift action, stating that "no one can take law and order into their own hands." Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the hospital following the incident, and Ajit Pawar expressed his grief, calling Siddique a "good colleague and friend" who was committed to communal harmony and the welfare of minority communities.

The killing sparked criticism from opposition leaders, who questioned the state of law and order in Maharashtra. Congress leader KC Venugopal criticized the Eknath Shinde government, pointing out that Siddique had repeatedly raised concerns about threats to his life, yet was attacked despite having Y-plus security. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi echoed these sentiments, questioning how the common public could feel safe if a high-profile political leader under protection could be targeted so brazenly.

Who was Baba Siddique? Born on September 13, 1958, in Patna, Baba Siddique moved to Mumbai as a child and entered politics at a young age. He joined the Congress in 1977 and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming president of the Mumbai Youth Congress in 1988. His strong grassroots connections helped him win his first election as MLA from the Bandra West constituency in 1999, a seat he held for three consecutive terms until 2014. Known for his work with diverse communities, Siddique was a respected leader in Maharashtra politics.