Baba Siddique murder case: Process to extradite gangster with ties to Bishnoi gang initiated

(Right) Baba Siddique, the NCP leader who was assassinated last year, and his son Zeeshan. File Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The Maharashtra government has initiated the legal process to extradite Mohammad Zeeshan Akhtar, alias Jassi, a key accused in the high-profile murder case of NCP leader Baba Siddique, after his arrest in Canada, confirmed Minister of State (Home) Yogesh Kadam.

Akhtar, considered a close associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, is believed to have played a pivotal role in orchestrating Siddique's murder. "This man [Akhtar], who had been absconding for a long time, has now been apprehended in Canada. We are now following all international protocols to bring him back to Mumbai. The investigation will progress further once he's in our custody," said Kadam.

Akhtar's role

Akhtar played a central role in recruiting Gurmel Singh, one of the three individuals charged with the murder of Siddique. Police investigations revealed that Akhtar, a close aide of the Anmol Bishnoi gang, first met Singh during their imprisonment at Kaithal Jail in Haryana.

Mohammad Zeeshan Akhtar, alias Jassi, a close associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi

During their time in jail, Akhtar built a rapport with Singh and maintained contact after the latter's release in August 2022. At the time, Singh was reportedly in a vulnerable state due to personal family losses, which made it easier for Akhtar to re-establish the connection. The two eventually reunited in Kaithal, along with Akhtar's associate Amit Nathi, who arranged a place for them to stay.

While living together, Akhtar shared a phone number with an international code linked to Anmol, suggesting ongoing communication with the gang's leadership. Both Akhtar and Nathi were regularly in touch with Anmol from Nawanshahr, indicating coordination at multiple levels. Akhtar also introduced Singh to Akash Chauhan, another associate of the gang who was then incarcerated but actively communicating through social media platforms. During this period, discussions were underway about executing a major operation involving Akhtar, Nathi and Chauhan, believed to be the plot that eventually led to Siddique's assassination.

Mission Mumbai

In August 2022, acting under the instructions of Anmol and Chauhan, Akhtar directed Singh to travel to Mumbai for a major operation. Akhtar informed Singh that he would be met by other associates in the city who would brief him on the assignment.

As part of the arrangement, Singh was promised Rs 50,000 for the job, along with the assurance of being sent abroad after its completion. Following this directive, Singh left his village towards the end of August and reached Delhi, from where he boarded the Amritsar-Dadar Express to travel to Mumbai. Upon his arrival at Dadar railway station, he contacted a WhatsApp number beginning with the international code +351, which had previously been shared with him by Akhtar.

Soon after, Akhtar sent Singh the contact details and photographs of two individuals - Shivkumar Gautam, also known as Shiva, and Dharamraj Kashyap. Singh met both men at Dadar station as arranged. The trio then proceeded to a rented room in Kurla, where Gautam showed Singh photographs of Siddique and his son, Zeeshan, on his mobile phone. It was at this point that the target of the operation was disclosed, with instructions to eliminate one of the two individuals.

While Singh had been deployed to Mumbai under Akhtar's guidance, Gautam and Kashyap had been sent by Shubham Lonkar and his brother Pravin, based in Pune. The brothers were reportedly operating as a sleeper cell for the Bishnoi gang, providing critical logistical support to the shooters involved in the assassination plot.

The extradition process

Explaining the extradition protocol, a senior Mumbai Crime Branch officer said, "When a wanted accused is arrested in a foreign country, we initiate the process through official channels. A formal request is sent to the CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation], which acts as the National Central Bureau for the Interpol in India. The CBI then coordinates with Interpol to contact law enforcement in the country where the accused is held. Once the legal formalities are completed, officers are sent to bring the accused back."