Baba Siddique death probe: Police examining August FIR against Zeeshan Siddique for protest against SRA project that led to threat perception on family

While the input did not explicitly mention a direct threat to Siddique’s life, police sources revealed that it signalled an awareness of the risks he and his family might be facing. The official said that owing to the threat, Siddique’s security was subsequently enhanced, with an additional constable assigned to him in mid-September.

When asked if the team investigating the killing of Baba Siddique by three assailants on Saturday, is looking at this aspect too, a senior crime branch official said, “The FIR registered at Kherwadi police station is also one of the angles the crime branch officials are looking into. We are investigating from every angle.”

Zeeshan was protesting a redevelopment project in Sant Dnyaneshwar Nagar and Bharat Nagar, where over 4,000 families would be displaced to make way for a high-end residential and commercial complex, including a five-star hotel.

According to police officials, an FIR was registered on August 1 by a contractual employee of the SRA. The employee stated that the survey in Sant Dnyaneshwar Nagar began on July 22. On July 31, Siddique reportedly held a meeting with local residents, urging SRA officials not to conduct the survey forcefully.

“He told us to survey only those who consented and not to force the survey on everyone. He subsequently threatened our colleagues and halted the survey that day,” the complainant stated.

“On the following day, Siddique, his colleagues and local residents again gathered and stopped the survey,” the complaint read.

Following the complaint, the Kherwadi police booked Siddique and seven others for unlawful assembly and obstructing a public servant in the execution of their duty.

Police officials noted that, in light of the project’s scale and the local unrest it generated, there were early indications of a potential law and order situation. This assessment led to the decision to bolster Siddique’s security.

Siddique’s father Baba Siddique was shot dead by three assailants on Saturday, following which two of them were arrested from spot while two others, who were part of the larger conspiracy, were also nabbed later. Police claimed that those arrested are linked to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.