Baba Siddique Murder Case: Court Denies Bail to Accused Over Role in Harbouring Shooters

A special MCOCA court in Mumbai on Friday denied bail to accused Amol Gaikwad in the Baba Siddique murder case , observing that his alleged role in harbouring the shooters was supported by material on record and indicated involvement in a wider conspiracy.

Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique (66) was shot dead on October 12, 2024, outside his son Zeeshan’s office in Bandra (East), Mumbai, by three assailants in a case that has since drawn scrutiny over alleged links between organised crime networks and influential public spaces of power .

Special MCOCA judge Satyanarayan R. Navander noted that Gaikwad was prima facie involved in the activities of an organised crime syndicate , and that his alleged role in providing shelter to the shooters after the attack directly connected him to the larger conspiracy behind the murder . The court held that his involvement “cannot be said to be less significant” than other accused.

The defence argued that Gaikwad was falsely implicated, citing alleged non-compliance with procedural safeguards under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and claiming his confession was obtained under coercion. However, the prosecution maintained that he had a defined role in facilitating the escape and concealment of the shooters .

Rejecting the plea for parity with a co-accused granted bail by the Bombay High Court, the court said the circumstances and evidence against Gaikwad were materially different, reinforcing his continued custody.

The case, which has led to 27 arrests and multiple absconding accused including Anmol Bishnoi , continues under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) .

The ruling once again underscores concerns around the nexus between organised crime, political figures, and influence networks , often surfacing in high-profile investigations involving targeted killings and syndicate-driven operations.