A key accused in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, Zeeshan Akhtar, has admitted that the killing was carried out on the instructions of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. In a striking confession given during an interview with India Today TV, Zeeshan claimed responsibility for orchestrating the attack but insisted he never personally fired the shots. He stated that the murder was committed “out of brotherhood” and not for money, adding that he would never return to India because he had been falsely implicated in numerous cases.
Zeeshan, listed as Accused No. 2 in the Mumbai Police chargesheet, made these remarks shortly after the extradition of Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother Anmol from the United States in connection with the same murder case. Zeeshan claimed he had cut ties with Lawrence due to internal disputes and accused the police of branding him a gangster despite what he described as only “a few” minor crimes.
He said he fled India with the help of Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti, alleging that he faced threats to his life. According to his version of events, the murder of Baba Siddique was carried out as retaliation after a Bishnoi gang member died in custody. Zeeshan declared that he has “16–17 cases” against him and asserted that he has no intention of surrendering.
The murder took place on October 12 last year, when Baba Siddique was shot dead outside his son Zeeshan Siddique’s Bandra office. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang later claimed responsibility. Police investigations have named Zeeshan Akhtar, a resident of Jalandhar, as the mastermind. So far, 26 people have been arrested in the case.
Zeeshan Siddique, the son of the slain leader, recently held a press conference expressing dissatisfaction with the investigation. He questioned why Mumbai Police had failed to apprehend Zeeshan Akhtar and Anmol Bishnoi despite identifying them as key conspirators. He revealed he had attempted to track Zeeshan through US authorities but was informed that the accused was no longer in the country and had been deported.
He criticised the ongoing probe as poorly handled and demanded accountability, stating that justice for his father remained elusive as long as the alleged mastermind continued to evade arrest.
