The Bombay High Court has directed authorities to carry out a fresh review of security arrangements provided to former MLA Zeeshan Siddique within a period of ten days, taking into account the repeated threats he has received from alleged extortionists. The direction was issued on Tuesday as the court examined concerns surrounding Siddique’s safety following the killing of his father, senior politician and former MLA Baba Siddique, who was shot dead in October 2024.
Zeeshan Siddique had approached the court stating that despite the murder of his father and subsequent threats to his own life, his security cover had been reduced. He highlighted that he had received threatening messages in April as well as again in August this year, raising serious concerns about his personal safety. He also questioned the rationale behind the downgrading of his protection in the aftermath of such developments.
During the hearing, investigators informed the court that a chargesheet had been filed in the case, alleging that Baba Siddique was murdered by members of the Bishnoi gang because of his close association with actor Salman Khan. Zeeshan’s mother, Shehzeen Siddique, submitted that after the present petition was filed, her son’s security was reduced from the Y+ category to just two police personnel.
However, the division bench comprising Justices A.S. Gadkari and R.R. Bhonsale observed that this claim was not entirely accurate. The court noted that the reduction in security had taken place earlier, in April, well before Shehzeen Siddique moved the High Court with the plea.
Advocate General Milind Sathe, appearing for the state, informed the bench that in light of the threats received by Zeeshan Siddique in both April and August, as well as his latest representation to the police, a reassessment of his security would be undertaken. He explained that threat perception cases are periodically reviewed by a high-level committee consisting of senior police officials, including the city police commissioner, and such reviews are typically conducted every three months.
Sathe further clarified that, as per the established protocol, the committee had initially decided to downgrade Zeeshan Siddique’s security to a single police guard. However, considering the circumstances, the Mumbai Police Commissioner later enhanced the cover to two policemen.
The High Court has fixed January 10 as the next date of hearing in the matter. The bench also granted liberty to Zeeshan Siddique to approach the vacation bench during the year-end recess if the review committee fails to address his security concerns satisfactorily within the stipulated time.
Separately, Shehzeen Siddique, the widow of Baba Siddique, has urged the High Court to transfer the investigation into her husband’s murder to an independent agency or place it under court monitoring. She has sought periodic submission of sealed status reports to the court, citing concerns over the adequacy and transparency of the ongoing probe.
