Day after the murder of veteran leader Baba Siddique, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said police have found some leads in connection with the killing of NCP leader and former State Minister.

Various aspects of the murder are under investigation, but Fadnavis, who has authority over the state home department, informed reporters in Gondia district that the police will disclose more details later.

Siddique (66), a member of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, was ambushed by three individuals in Mumbai’s Bandra area and tragically shot outside his son’s office on Saturday night.

He succumbed to his injuries at Lilavati Hospital. Fadnavis expressed his shock over the incident, stating, “Baba Siddique was very close to me, and we had worked together for years.”

While some leads have been obtained, Fadnavis refrained from revealing them, emphasising that the police will share information once the legal process is concluded.

Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has criticised the state government, calling for accountability and the resignation of those in power.

In response to Pawar’s comments, Fadnavis remarked, “He is solely focused on seizing power, even in the face of such grave incidents. His intentions are driven by power, whereas we are committed to the progress and safety of Maharashtra.”

A Mumbai police official today said that they have come to know about a viral social media post linked to an alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claiming responsibility for Siddique’s murder.

Regarding this, the official stated, “We are in the process of verifying the authenticity of the viral social media post.” The murder is being investigated from various angles, including the possibility of a planned assassination, business rivalry, or threats related to a slum rehabilitation project.

The BJP has vowed not to spare those responsible for the killing and condemned Opposition parties for engaging in “petty politics” regarding the crime.

Additionally, BJP national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain assured that the Maharashtra Police will pursue all involved in Siddique’s murder and criticised Opposition leaders for politicising the issue insensitively.

Asserting that there is a complete collapse of law and order in Maharashtra, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday expressed his grief over the killing of Ajit Pawar’s faction Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique, who was shot dead by unknown assailants in Mumbai last night.

Siddique, a former Maharashtra Minister and former Congress leader, was shot near Nirmal Nagar in Bandra. He later succumbed to his bullet injuries at Lilavati Hospital late Saturday night.

Hitting out at the Maharashtra government over law and order, Gandhi said, “This horrifying incident exposes the complete collapse of law and order in Maharashtra. The government must take responsibility, and justice must prevail.”

“The tragic demise of Baba Siddique is shocking and saddening. My thoughts are with his family in this difficult time,” the former Congress chief said in a post on X.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also expressed his shock over the murder of the NCP leader and said justice must be ensured, and the present Maharashtra Government must order a thorough and transparent investigation.

The culprits must be brought to book at the earliest, he demanded.

“The tragic demise of Former Maharashtra Minister, Shri Baba Siddique is shocking beyond words. In this hour of grief, I offer my deepest condolences to his family, friends and supporters,” Kharge said in his post on X.

Accountability is paramount, the Congress chief asserted.

According to reports, the crime branch has taken over the investigation and is looking into potential motives including business rivalry, contract killing, and threats related to a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project.

Officials have confirmed that two assailants have been arrested, and the police are searching for a third suspect in the case.

In the latest update on the killing of the NCP leader, the Mumbai Crime Branch stated that a total of six shots were fired at Siddique, three of which hit him.

The crime branch also mentioned that the third suspect has been identified and will be apprehended soon.

Earlier, doctors at the hospital reported that Siddique sustained two gunshot wounds to his chest before being taken to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital for emergency treatment.

After visiting the family at Cooper Hospital, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar spoke to reporters and said: “The police have arrested two people. Additionally, the search is ongoing with five teams deployed for the same. CM (Eknath Shinde) and the Home Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) are also overseeing this. Everything will be disclosed in two to three days.”

Baba Siddiqui’s body was taken to Cooper Hospital for post-mortem. Ajit Pawar met Baba Siddiqui’s son and Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddiqui at the hospital.

NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar has condemned the killing of former Minister Baba Siddique, expressing concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra.

Retorting sharply at the state government, Pawar demanded that those in power not only announce investigations but also take responsibility and step down from their positions.

“The killing of former state minister Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, is regrettable. If the Home Minister and the rulers are going to push the cart of the state so mildly, it can be an alarm bell for the common people. There is a need not only to investigate this, but also to accept the responsibility and step down from the position of the rulers. A heartfelt tribute to Baba Siddiqui. Condolences to his family,” the NCP supremo said in a post on X.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday called for unity among Hindus citing the example of Bangladesh where, he said, for the first time, Hindus united and came out on roads to protect themselves.

Addressing the annual Vijayadashami program held at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, Bhagwat said what is happening in Bangladesh is also a learning for Hindus in India.

“What happened in our neighbouring Bangladesh? It might have some immediate reasons and those who are concerned will discuss it. But the underlying issue is the repeated atrocities against Hindus,” he said.

The RSS chief, condemning the violence against Hindus in the neighbouring country, said that as long as the radical nature of committing atrocities out of anger persists – not only Hindus, but all minorities will be in danger.

“If we are weak, we are inviting atrocity. Wherever we are, we need to be united and empowered and weakness is not an option,” he asserted.

Bhagwat expressed concern over a prevalent narrative in Bangladesh that portrays India as a threat, leading to discussions about aligning with Pakistan due to its nuclear capabilities in response to the perceived threat from India. He highlighted how a country that India actively supported during its formation is now fostering such a negative narrative against India.

Indicating the countries behind such discussions, the RSS chief underscored their desire to instigate similar conditions within India. This push is driven by a goal to impede India’s progress and is attributed to forces promoting ideas like “Deep State”, “Wokeism” and “Cultural Marxism”.

Regarding the threats posed by these ideologies, Bhagwat emphasised how they aim to dismantle cultural traditions by influencing key societal institutions like education, media, and intellectual discourse. This process involves subverting the values, beliefs, and thoughts of society under the guise of these ideologies.

He further explained the tactics of these groups, which involve creating divisions within society based on identity, needs, or grievances, leading to a sense of victimisation and discontent. By exploiting these fault lines through the education system, media, and other institutions, they manipulate segments of society, fostering aggression and distrust to establish their dominance, and perpetuating an environment of dissent and fear.