A day after former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was shot dead in Mumbai by three assailants, the Mumbai Police produced two of the accused before the holiday court on Sunday, October 13, amid full protection. Deputy Commissioner of Police (detection 1) Vishal Thakur also present in the court.
During the hearing, one of the accused, had claimed before the court that he is a minor, aged 17. The police, countering his claims, said that the accused is misleading the court and that he is 19 years old.
To this, the defence lawyer asserted that his client was a minor and if the police had any documents to establish that he is not a minor, they should produce the evidence before the court.
Following this, the court asked the police to produce documents to verify his age. The police stated that they would be shortly producing the accused`s Aadhar Card – which they had seized during the panchanama – before the court to verify his age. The court then granted the police an additional five minutes to produce the documents.
The police presented the accused`s Aadhar Card before the magistrate. The defence lawyer was also shown the Aadhar Card.
According to the police, the accused is 21 years old, as his Aadhar Card stated his date of birth as March 1, 2003.
Baba Siddique shot dead: Fake Aadhar Card of accused created, say Mumbai Police
However, the Aadhar Card presented to the court had another name. When questioned, the accused claimed that while the photo on the card was his, he is unaware of the other details. The police then stated that a fake identity had been created.
The court asked the police if there was any other document apart from the Aadhar card.
The public prosecutor informed the court that only the Aadhar card was found during the panchnama and that the investigation is still in the preliminary stages, adding that an ossification test could be conducted, if the court so directs.
To this, the accused asserted that that he is minor and had no objection for the ossification test.
The police further informed the court that the arrested duo had conducted a recce of the area where Baba Siddique had been shot dead, and stayed in Pune and Mumbai.
Baba Siddique shot dead: Mumbai cops seek 14-day custody
“The murder of Baba Siddique was well planed and executed. It is very important to find out their motive and we are not sure if they have plans to kill another person. Two other accused are absconding,” the public prosecutor stated in the court.
Mumbai Police`s Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC), which is investigating the case, sought 14-day custody of both the accused. “There are certain things which we cannot reveal in open court,” AEC said while producing the case diary before the magistrate.
AEC further claimed that they seized 28 live bullets from the accused, apart from the six they had fired at Baba Siddique.
More details are awaited.
