In a significant development in the Baba Siddique murder case, Zeeshan Akhtar, the alleged mastermind behind the assassination of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, has been detained in Canada. According to Mumbai Police sources, Akhtar, also known as Jassi Purewal, was apprehended by Canadian authorities following an extensive international manhunt.

Baba Siddique, a prominent political figure with strong connections in both politics and the entertainment industry and a close aide to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, was shot dead on October 12, 2024, outside his son Zeeshan Siddiqui's office in Bandra, Mumbai. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the murder, citing Siddique's close ties with Bollywood actor Salman Khan as the motive.

Zeeshan Akhtar, originally from Jalandhar, Punjab, has a history of criminal activity. He is wanted in connection with at least nine criminal cases, including murder, targeted killings, and robbery. Investigations revealed that Akhtar was present at the crime scene during the shooting and played a central role in planning and executing the murder. He is believed to have orchestrated the entire operation and had a backup plan to shoot Siddique himself if the initial attack failed. After the killing, Akhtar reportedly sent photos and videos of the murder scene to Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, with whom he was on a phone call during the operation.

According to police reports, Akhtar was the handler of the shooters involved in Siddique's assassination, identified as Dharmaraj Kashyap, Gurmel Baljeet Singh, and Shivkumar Gautam. He was responsible for arranging weapons and accommodation for the shooters. A month before the killing, he left Mumbai, likely to avoid suspicion.

Akhtar's criminal network reportedly expanded after he established links with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang while incarcerated, where he met the gang's top shooter, Vikram Brar. He is believed to have escaped to Canada using a forged passport, allegedly with the assistance of Pakistani underworld figure Shahzad Bhatti.

Following his detention in Canada, efforts are underway to extradite Akhtar to India, where he will face trial. Authorities believe that his interrogation may reveal critical information and expose deeper layers of the conspiracy behind Baba Siddique's murder. The arrest is expected to add significant momentum to the ongoing investigation by the Mumbai Police, who had already detained and interrogated several individuals linked to the case.

Mumbai Police are in contact with Canadian authorities, but an official confirmation from Mumbai Police is still awaited.