Shiv Kumar Gautam, one of the shooters involved in the assassination of Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique on October 12, has provided significant information to Mumbai Police on the Lawrence Bishnoi gang’s role in the crime. Gautam, arrested in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, revealed that he was instructed by Anmol Bishnoi, brother of incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, to kill either Baba Siddique or his son Zeeshan Siddique, targeting whichever one he encountered first.
Following his arrest, Gautam’s capture raised the total arrests in the case to 23. Police also apprehended four others—Anurag Kashyap, Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Akash Srivastava, and Akhilesh Pratap Singh—who aided Gautam by providing shelter and facilitating his escape attempts.
Gautam had planned his escape meticulously. After the shooting, he altered his appearance, mingling with the crowd to avoid detection. He then traveled from the crime scene to Kurla Station, caught a local train to Thane, and later disposed of his mobile phone. Over the following days, he stayed in multiple locations, including Pune, Jhansi, and Lucknow, before reaching Bahraich, where he was captured by authorities while attempting to flee to Nepal.
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During the 21-day manhunt, the Mumbai Police Crime Branch tracked Gautam through detailed surveillance of his network, closely monitoring 45 of his known associates and relatives. Gautam’s connections to Shubham Lonkar, a scrap dealer linked to Lawrence Bishnoi’s circle, helped authorities pinpoint his movements. Four suspects were identified when they were seen buying clothing in Gautam’s size.
The investigation revealed that ₹2 lakh had been deposited in Anurag Kashyap’s account prior to the murder, which he reportedly withdrew to fund Gautam’s weapon purchase. Another ₹5 lakh was discovered in an account linked to accused Harish Kumar Nishad. The origins of these funds are under further investigation.
Mumbai Police believe that Anmol Bishnoi, allegedly residing in Canada, orchestrated the murder. Gautam has been remanded in custody until November 19 as the investigation continues, though the exact motive remains unclear.