The assassination of Baba Ziauddin Siddique, a prominent Indian politician, has sent shockwaves reverberating across Mumbai and the nation at large. The 66-year-old, well-known for his political influence, was shot on Saturday night near his car as he was leaving his son’s office in the bustling Bandra area, tragically succumbing to his injuries later in the hospital.

Political Landscape in Turmoil

Siddique was a key figure in the coalition government ruling Maharashtra state, the home of Mumbai. His murder has sparked a fierce political blame game, with various parties seizing upon the turmoil to criticize their rivals. While the exact motive remains unclear, many are drawing parallels to the violent political landscape of the 1990s, during which politicians and Bollywood stars were frequently targeted by the city’s notorious criminal underworld.

The Investigation Unfolds

Authorities have arrested three suspects connected to a notorious gang, whose leader is currently incarcerated. In an alarming twist, investigators recovered two firearms and 28 live rounds of ammunition from the trio. Reports suggest that the suspects distracted Siddique’s police security detail by setting off a “smoke firecracker,” which allowed them to execute their deadly attack relatively unimpeded.

Who Was Baba Siddique?

Born in Bihar, Siddique moved to Mumbai as a child and quickly climbed the political ladder, starting his career as a student leader in the 1980s with the Congress Party. Over the years, he served multiple terms in the state legislature and even held a ministerial position from 2004. Earlier this year, he made headlines again by switching allegiance to the Nationalist Congress Party.

Siddique was also known for his extravagant iftar parties during Ramadan, which were frequented by A-list Bollywood celebrities. A particularly memorable moment occurred in 2013, when actors Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan reconciled their long-standing feud with a hug at one of these events—even elevating it to a societal spectacle in Mumbai.

The Dark Connections to Gang Warfare

While the police have not confirmed specific affiliations, various reports have linked the suspects to the infamous Bishnoi gang, known for its violent crimes and connections to several high-profile murders, including that of Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moosewala. Following the assassination, a social media post purportedly from a gang member claimed responsibility for Siddique’s murder—a claim police are still investigating for authenticity.

Even in prison, the gang’s leader, Lawrence Bishnoi, is rumored to orchestrate operations, as evidenced by recent high-profile incidents involving the gang, including threats and assaults on Bollywood celebrities. Moreover, newly surfaced allegations from Canadian law enforcement suggest that Bishnoi’s group may have ties to Indian bureaucracies using criminal factions to target political dissidents abroad.

Continued Investigations and Rising Tensions

As investigations intensify, police custodianship over the arrested suspects has been secured for a week while they continue their manhunt for additional accomplices. Fifteen specialized teams have been established to peel back the layers of this complicated case, attempting to stitch together the web of organized crime that seems to have reared its ugly head once more in Mumbai.

As the nation focuses its gaze on this shocking incident, one thing is for sure: the murder of Baba Siddique is likely only the tip of the iceberg in a far-reaching narrative of political treachery, gang warfare, and societal upheaval that has gripped India. This chilling event not only raises concerns about the safety of public figures but also casts an uneasy shadow over the country’s political landscape, leaving many to wonder: who will be next?