Was NCP leader Baba Siddique killed to send a message to Bollywood star Salman Khan?

Hyderabad: Was Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Congress leader Baba Siddique killed to send a message to Bollywood star Salman Khan?

According to sources, the recent shooting case outside Salman Khan’s home is linked to the killing of leader Baba Siddique in Bandra, Mumbai, on October 12. Gangster Laurence Bishnoi, who is currently in Sabarmati jail in Gujarat, had told the police that he would send a strong message to Salman Khan.

With Baba Siddique close to the Salman Khan family, police are investigating the Laurence Bishnoi angle in the case.

Who is Laurence Bishnoi?

Laurence Bishnoi is a gangster who is targeting Salman Khan for his involvement in the 1998 black buck killing case. The blackbuck was killed during the shooting of the film ‘Hum Saath Saath Hai’.

Rajasthan High Court in 2016 acquitted Salman Khan from the charges of killing the blackbuck. But the Bishnoi community is not convinced and they want to take revenge on the Bollywood superstar. The Bishnoi community believes Black Buck is a reincarnation of their religious Guru Bhagwan Jameshwar, known as Jambaji.

Why was Baba Siddique targeted?

Baba Siddique is seen as a family friend of Salman Khan and has been his close associate for more than 20 years. Baba Siqqiue’s iftar parties flashed Salman Khan as the chief guest, letting people know how close he is to the Bollywood star. According to sources, Bhisnoi targeted Baba to send a message to Khan. Baba Siddique had no direct connection or links with Bishnoi. The killing of Baba Siddique is being seen in the recent Salman Khan shooting case and that of the black buck case in 1998.

How did Baba Siddique brokered peace between the two Khans?

The Iftar parties also saw the end of the cold war between Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan in 2013. During the Ramzaan iftar party in 2013, Shah Rukh Khan was seated next to Salim Khan, and when Salman Khan came to greet his father, Shah Rukh Khan extended his greetings. Baba Siddique took this opportunity to hug both the Khans, photographed widely, and the video went viral. Salman Khan was hesitant, but Baba Siddique pulled him over, and Salman and Shah Rukh hugged each other. This video of the two Khans together, with Baba as the peacemaker, has been watched over a million times.

The Journey of Baba Siddique

Baba Siddique joined the Congress party and was a municipal councillor in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. He was elected to the Maharashtra Assembly for three consecutive terms in 1999, 2004 and 2009.

Baba Siddique and Sunil Dutt: He was very closely associated with yesteryears star and politician Sunil Dutt. The Dutt household considered Baba Siddique to be one of their own. Baba Siddique was seen with Sanjay Dutt during his jail hearings and accompanied him during the court hearings. He was also pulled up for being close to the Dutt family.

He was in charge of former member of Parliament Priya Dutt’s election campaigns and also chartered the political course for the Congress party in Mumbai.

Baba Siddique and Salman Khan: Closeness to Sanjay Dutt helped Baba Siddique connect to Bollywood stars. A Bandra corporator, MLA and close to MP Priya Dutt, Siddique became the go-to person for Bollywood stars in Bandra.

The friendship between Baba and Salman Khan festered during that time. Khan became the face of Baba’s iftar parties every year in Ramzan.

He was a member of the All India Congress Committee, and during the Parliament elections of 2023, he had a fallout with the Congress party. According to sources, Salman Khan played a significant role in the switch of Baba Siddique from Congress to NCP.

Both NCP and Congress leaders in Bandra

On his death, both NCP and Congress leaders are together for the final rites of Baba Siddique. Workers of both parties are on the ground and in touch with his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique. According to sources, Congress workers from Maharashtra and Gujarat who worked closely with Baba Siddique are in Bandra. His death has brought all his past associates together to console the grieving family.

Salman Khan was also at the Siddique home on Saturday night as the news of Baba Siddique shoot out broke out.