Mumbai/New Delhi: In a significant breakthrough, the police have apprehended Shiv Kumar Gautam, the prime accused in the murder of Maharashtra politician Baba Siddique, after a month-long search across multiple states. Gautam, who had been on the run since October 12, was arrested in a joint operation between Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh police in Bahraich, near the Indo-Nepal border. Police sources indicate he was preparing to cross into Nepal when he was captured.

Baba Siddique, a well-known figure and a former Maharashtra politician, was tragically shot dead in Mumbai’s Bandra area last month. The incident occurred just outside the office of his son, Zeeshan Siddique, a sitting MLA, shocking the local community and sparking a major investigation. The police initially managed to detain two suspects — Gurnail Singh from Haryana and Dhramraj Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh — immediately after the attack. However, Shiv Kumar evaded capture, leading authorities on a month-long chase through multiple states.

After evading the initial search efforts, Shiv Kumar traveled to Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh, allegedly to meet associates within the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, a group known for its criminal activities. The Mumbai police tracked him to Omkareshwar, but he managed to slip away. Over the following weeks, investigators monitored a network of 45 people connected to him, including family members and close aides, and traced their communications and movements.

As the investigation narrowed, authorities focused on four individuals who were in regular contact with Gautam. Police sources say a neighboring residence had been prepared as a “safehouse” for Gautam. A trap was set, and law enforcement waited patiently for a meeting to take place. On Sunday, Gautam was apprehended alongside his four aides, identified as Anurag Kashyap, Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Akash Srivastava, and Akhileshendra Pratap Singh, all of whom are now facing charges of sheltering him and aiding his escape attempts.

During his interrogation, Shiv Kumar admitted his affiliation with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and disclosed that the murder was allegedly orchestrated by Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of the jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Anmol, a fugitive with a ₹10 lakh bounty on his head, is also wanted in connection with other high-profile cases, including the 2022 murder of singer-politician Sidhu Moosewala and a firing incident outside actor Salman Khan’s residence.
The Bishnoi gang’s purported grievance against Salman Khan is rooted in the 1998 blackbuck poaching incident, in which Khan was implicated. Blackbucks hold a revered status in the Bishnoi community, and the actor’s involvement in the case has made him a long-standing target for the gang. Investigators reveal that Baba Siddique’s strong relationship with Salman Khan might have put him on the gang's radar. Reports further indicate that Zeeshan Siddique, Baba Siddique’s son, was also a potential target, as evidenced by a photo of him found on one of the suspects’ mobile devices.

So far, 20 individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, including several who allegedly helped Gautam evade capture and facilitated his movements across states. The police are expected to conduct further interrogations to uncover more details about the conspiracy behind the murder and to establish the full extent of the Bishnoi gang's involvement.
The capture of Shiv Kumar Gautam is a significant milestone in the case, providing critical information to investigators and helping to avert a potential cross-border escape. With his arrest, authorities are hopeful that justice for Baba Siddique and his family will soon be within reach.