Shiv Kumar Gautam, the main accused and one of the three shooters in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, was arrested today in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh. According to sources, he was attempting to flee to Nepal at the time of his capture.
Shiv Kumar was apprehended along with four others – Anurag Kashyap, Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Akash Srivastava, and Akhileshendra Pratap Singh – who allegedly provided him shelter and aided his escape attempt to Nepal. The five men are now in police custody.
Baba Siddique, aged 66, was fatally shot by three gunmen in the Bandra area of Mumbai on October 12. Prior to today’s arrest, 20 people, including the two other shooters, had already been detained in connection with the murder.
Shiv Kumar was captured following a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai police in the Nanpara area of Bahraich. Police officials confirmed that Shiv Kumar was one of the shooters and had direct ties to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, acting as a key contact for them and receiving instructions on their behalf.
During questioning, Shiv Kumar admitted his association with the Bishnoi gang and disclosed that the murder was carried out under orders from Anmol Bishnoi, Lawrence’s brother, who is reportedly in Canada. Anmol Bishnoi is implicated in several high-profile cases, including the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer-politician Sidhu Moosewala and a 2023 shooting outside actor Salman Khan’s residence in Mumbai. He is on the National Investigation Agency’s most-wanted list, with a ₹10 lakh reward for information leading to his arrest.
Shiv Kumar stated that he and his associates spent several days in Mumbai monitoring Baba Siddique’s routine. On the night of October 12, they executed their plan. He recounted that while two of the attackers were caught, he managed to escape. “I threw away my phone and made my way from Mumbai to Pune, then to Bahraich via Jhansi and Lucknow,” he said.
Shiv Kumar also revealed that he stayed in contact with Anurag Kashyap during his travels, who informed him that arrangements had been made for him to hide in Nepal, with support from other gang members.
After the murder, Shiv Kumar reportedly traveled to Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh to meet with associates of the gang. Although the Mumbai police tracked his movements there, they were unable to apprehend him at the time.
Investigators believe that Baba Siddique’s close association with Bollywood actor Salman Khan may be linked to the motive behind the killing. Members of the Bishnoi gang have hinted that the murder was connected to Khan’s involvement in a 1998 blackbuck hunting incident, as the animal is sacred to the Bishnoi community. Authorities suspect that Siddique’s son, Zeeshan Siddique, a Mumbai MLA, might also be targeted due to his association with his father.
The investigation into the murder is ongoing as authorities work to uncover further details about the conspiracy behind the killing.
