Baba Siddique, a name that has long been associated with Mumbai politics, was shot dead last night.
Here’s a breakdown of the allegations and controversies surrounding him:
Bollywood & Dawood
For over four decades, Siddique was a member of the Congress Party before recently joining the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Allegedly, he acted as a middleman between Bollywood and the notorious underworld, particularly Dawood Ibrahim’s gang. The underworld, it seems, avoided direct contact with actors, with Siddique facilitating the connections.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been investigating Siddique’s alleged involvement in terror financing and anti-national activities. His close ties with Dawood’s gang had fueled these investigations.
The Slum Rehabilitation Scam
Siddique’s son has actively opposed slum rehabilitation projects, adding another layer to the controversy. The ED suspects that a company involved in a Rs 2,000 crore slum scam might have been a front for Siddique himself. In 2018, ED attached assets worth Rs 462 crore belonging to him, further deepening his legal troubles.
The Attack on Baba Siddique
In a dramatic turn of events, an attack was orchestrated outside Siddique’s office. Three men planned for two months and timed their gunfire to coincide with firecrackers going off nearby. Two of the accused, Karnail Singh from Haryana and Dharamraj Kashyap from Uttar Pradesh, were reportedly linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The third attacker remains on the run.
Many see this attack as a case of karma catching up with Siddique, as his alleged connections and actions come back to haunt him.
The ongoing investigations and legal battles surrounding Siddique continue to raise eyebrows, leaving many wondering what the next chapter in this saga will bring.