Baba Siddique murder: HC asks Mumbai Police why security of late NCP leader’s family was scaled down

Baba Siddique, a former state minister and MLA, was shot dead on October 12 last year by three assailants outside his son Zeeshan’s office in Bandra (East).

A bench of Justices Ajey S Gadkari and Ranjitsinha R Bhonsale was hearing the petition. It also records that the Police “failed to collect incriminating material against the builder lobby” from the petitioner, her family members and others who were present at meetings between the deceased leader and the builders.

At an earlier hearing, the court had questioned the Investigation Officer on why Shehzeen Siddique’s statement had not been recorded.

On Thursday, the judges asked the Public Prosecutor representing Mumbai Police: “What was the reason to withdraw security? If security is scaled down, we want to know the reasons for that. From Y level why did it come down? Where is the finding that security provided has to be scaled down?”

The bench noted that the petitioner had alleged that the killing took place after the security cover was reduced. It asked why the police scaled down protection despite threats to the family.

The government lawyer informed the court that the security was reduced in November 2024 and that meetings of the TPC — comprising the Commissioner of Police and Joint CP — are held monthly.

The bench then sought the minutes of the TPC’s October 2024 meeting. The court also orally observed that “there appeared to be malafide”, noting that the reduction seemed to be based on a “passing reference” by a police officer and that the committee had not evaluated the threat perception.

Considering the “complexity” of the matter, the court posted it for further hearing on Tuesday, December 16, and asked Advocate General Milind Sathe to appear.