Shehzeen Ziauddin Siddique, the wife of former legislator, late Baba Siddique, has filed a criminal writ petition in the Bombay High Court (HC) seeking an impartial and independent investigation into her husband’s gruesome murder in October 2024. The petition alleged that there are many lapses in the ongoing probe conducted by the Mumbai Police and Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
According to the petition, Baba Siddique had received threatening and offensive messages from one Prithvijeet Rajaram Chavan on July 15, 2024. The late leader subsequently wrote to the commissioner of police and requested protection.
The petition claimed that despite warnings, the required protection was not provided, and on October 12, 2024, Baba Siddique was shot dead at Kherwadi in Bandra by professional shooters allegedly belonging to the Bishnoi gang. Shehzeen also claimed in the petition that her husband was opposed to irregularities in Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects, and investigators intentionally ignored this possible motive due to political influence and pressure.
Baba Siddique (left) with his son Zeeshan. File pic/Satej Shinde
Following Baba Siddique’s death, Kherwadi police registered an FIR, and the investigation was handed over to ACP Kishor Kumar Shinde of the DCB (Detective Branch) CID Unit-D.
The petition further details a series of developments following the murder, including RTI applications filed by Baba’s son Zeeshan Siddique and daughter Arshia Siddique with the Ministries of Home and External Affairs, regarding the extradition of wanted accused Anmol Bishnoi from the US. The Siddique family alleges that information about progress remains undisclosed.
The petition asserts that the high court should direct that the case be transferred to another independent special investigation officer and police from another state to ensure a fair and unbiased probe.
The matter is expected to come up for hearing before the Criminal Appellate Division of the Bombay High Court in the coming days. The writ petition was filed by Advocate Trivankumar Karnani in the HC on November 3 and is listed for hearing on November 11.
