Mumbai, India – In a disturbing revelation following his capture in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, Yogesh, also known as Raju, a 26-year-old alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi-Hashim Baba gang, proclaimed that the recently murdered former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique had nefarious ties with famed fugitive Dawood Ibrahim. Siddique was gunned down outside his son’s office on the night of October 12 in Mumbai’s Bandra area, marking a violent end to his controversial life.
Raju was detained by police following an intense shootout which left him with a leg injury. While being treated at Mathura’s District Hospital, he made several statements to reporters, shedding light on Siddique’s alleged underworld connections. According to Raju, Siddique’s criminal affiliations and charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) were the catalysts for his assassination. “Involvement with notorious figures often leads to perilous consequences. This was the fate that befell Siddique,” Raju asserted.
The incident that led to Raju’s arrest occurred during a coordinated operation between the Delhi Police’s Special Cell and the Mathura Police, which also resulted in the seizure of a firearm, ammunition, and a motorcycle. He was pursued in connection to a separate case – the murder of gym owner Nadir Shah in Delhi’s Greater Kailash. Raju, however, denied any direct involvement in Siddique’s killing.
The circumstances around Siddique’s death have broader implications, highlighting the intricate and often dangerous intertwining of alleged organized crime and politics. Siddique, aged 66 at the time of his murder, was a prominent political figure with significant influence.
Further complicating the matter, Mumbai police recently apprehended five more individuals allegedly involved in providing logistical support and firearms for Siddique’s assassination, bringing the total arrests up to nine. According to police sources, these individuals were reportedly coordinating with Shubham Lonkar and Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar, both of whom remain at large. Akhtar is purportedly a key figure in the murder scheme, with established connections to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Raju shared insights into the modern strategies criminals employ in orchestrating such high-profile crimes. “Access to technology like mobile phones and the internet allows us to gather extensive information about our targets,” he explained, highlighting the unsettling ease with which criminals can infiltrate personal lives.
Reflecting on his own descent into the underworld, Raju attributed his criminal involvement to socioeconomic pressures and alleged police coercion. “I am a poor man, and have been thrust into this life against my will,” he lamented, suggesting a narrative common among many young men who find themselves embroiled in criminal activities.
As the case unfolds, the connections between organized crime and political figures in India remain under intense scrutiny, raising questions about the integrity and vulnerability of regional politics. Meanwhile, the police continue their hunt for the remaining fugitives involved in this elaborate web of crime.