No Evidence Linking Accused: SC refuses to cancel bail in Siddique murder case

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday refused to interfere with the bail granted to Akashdeep Karaj Singh , an accused in the murder of Baba Siddique , observing that the earlier order of the Bombay High Court was “well-reasoned” and required no intervention.

A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan dismissed a petition filed by Siddique’s widow, Shehzeen Ziauddin Siddique , who had challenged the bail order. The court noted that the high court had carefully evaluated the evidence and found no sufficient material linking Singh to the crime .

During the hearing, senior advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan , appearing for the petitioner, argued that Singh had alleged connections with the gang led by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi . However, the bench underscored that such claims had already been scrutinised and deemed insufficient by the high court .

The court also made a pointed remark when the Maharashtra government indicated its intent to challenge the bail, noting that the state appeared to have acted belatedly .

Earlier, on February 9, the Bombay High Court had granted bail to Singh, making him the first accused in the case to secure relief . While acknowledging the serious nature of the offence and the alleged involvement of an organised crime syndicate linked to Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi, the court said it could not establish prima facie grounds under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.

The high court observed that the prosecution’s case against Singh was largely based on a single phone call with a co-accused , which by itself did not demonstrate knowledge or participation in organised criminal activity .

Siddique, 66, was shot dead on October 12, 2024 , outside his son’s office in Mumbai’s Bandra East area. Police have since arrested 26 individuals in connection with the case, while Anmol Bishnoi remains a wanted accused . The investigation alleges that the murder was part of a larger conspiracy to assert dominance and spread fear .

Singh, who was arrested in November 2024, had argued that no specific role was attributed to him and that prolonged incarceration without trial would violate his fundamental rights . The trial in the case is yet to commence.