Mumbai’s Killa Court on Monday remanded Shiva Kumar, the main accused and shooter in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddiqui, along with four other suspects, to police custody until November 19. The five individuals were arrested by a joint team from the UP Special Task Force (STF) and Mumbai Crime Branch in the Nanpara area of Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich on Sunday.

Baba Siddiqui was shot dead by three assailants near the office of his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddiqui, in Mumbai’s Nirmal Nagar on October 12. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang, currently led by the jailed gangster, has claimed responsibility for the murder.

In a related development, the Mumbai Crime Branch has revealed that the Bishnoi gang had also targeted a prominent Pune leader. The gang was reportedly planning to carry out the assassination using the same shooters involved in the murder of Baba Siddiqui. Authorities found a pistol which was intended for the crime.

Although the identity of the Pune leader remains undisclosed, police have shared the intelligence with the Pune Police and are investigating whether the accused had conducted reconnaissance for the planned attack.