Amid the ongoing investigation into his father Baba Siddique’s assassination, Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddique on Sunday dared the culprits saying that the “fight is far from over”. Zeeshan said that he is a son of a lion and he is still alive, relentless and ready” to fight back.
“They silenced my father. But they forget – he was a lion—and I carry his roar within me, his fight in my veins. He stood for justice, fought for change and withstood the storms with unwavering courage. Now, those who brought him down turn their sights on me assuming they’ve won, to them I declare: The blood of a lion runs in my veins,” he said in a post on X.
The Congress MLA further said that he was “unafraid and unbroken” despite Baba’s murder.
“I am still here, unafraid and unbroken. They took one, but I rise in his place. This fight is far from over. Today, I stand where he stood: ALIVE, RELENTLESS and READY,” he added.
Earlier on Saturday, the slain leader’s son shared a couple of cryptic posts on the social media platform which left many to speculate about their meaning.
“Not all that is hidden sleeps, Nor all that is visible speaks,” read Zeeshan’s post. In another post, he wrote a Hindi couplet saying, “Cowards often frighten the brave; even jackals can kill lions through deceit.”
In his first reaction on Thursday, Zeeshan demanded justice and that Baba’s death shouldn’t be politicised and wouldn’t go in vain.
“My father lost his life protecting and saving the lives and homes of poor innocent people. Today, my family is broken but his death must not be politicised and definitely not go in vain. I NEED JUSTICE, MY FAMILY NEEDS JUSTICE!” he had said.
Zeeshan met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday and was apprised of the police probe so far into the case.
Police Arrests 10th Accused
The Mumbai Police on Sunday arrested another accused in connection linked with the Siddique murder case. The police held 32-year-old Bhagwat Singh from Navi Mumbai’s Belapur.
According to the police, Singh, who was living in the BKC area of Mumbai till the day of the attack, had supplied weapons to the shooters. The accused was produced before the court, which remanded him in police custody till October 26.
With this, the total number of arrests have reached 10.
On Friday, the Crime Branch had carried out several raids in Panvel and Karjat and arrested five persons–Nitin Gautam Sapre (32), Sambhaji Kisan Pardhi (44), Pradeep Dattu Thombre (37), Chetan Dilip Pardhi and Ram Fulchand Kanoujia (43)– for conspiracy related to the crime and its execution.
Earlier, the police held four persons, including Haryana resident Gurmail Baljit Singh (23), Uttar Pradesh native Dharmaraj Rajesh Kashyap (19), both alleged shooters; Harishkumar Balakram Nisad (23), and “co-conspirator” Pravin Lonkar, who hails from Pune.
The main shooter in the case, Shivkumar Gautam, along with Shubham Lonkar and Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar, is currently absconding. The cops have formed several teams to nab the accused.
Baba Siddique, former Maharashtra minister and a three-time MLA, was shot at by three men outside his MLA son’s office in Mumbai’s Bandra on Saturday evening. He was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital where he was declared dead.
As per the police sources, Baba Siddique and Zeeshan Siddique, both were on the radar of shooters.
Though the NCP leader’s shooters claimed to have links with Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, police are exploring multiple angles including a potential contract killing, business rivalry, and threats related to a slum rehabilitation project.