Baba Siddique Murder Case: MCOCA Invoked In NCP Leader's Killing Case Amid Ongoing Probe

Mumbai: In the high-profile NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) leader Baba Siddique murder case, the Mumbai Crime Branch invoked the provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (MCOC Act), on November 30. So far, 26 accused have been arrested, while three accused—Shubham Rameshwar Lonkar, Zeeshan Mohammad Akhtar, and Anmol Bishnoi—remain wanted in the case. The investigation is ongoing.

Details On NCP Leader's Killing

On October 12, around 9.15 pm, a 66-year-old NCP leader was shot dead by three assailants near the Bandra office of his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique. According to Crime Branch sources, the lead shooter, Shiv Kumar Gautam, stayed at the scene for nearly 20 minutes after the attack.

The Mumbai Crime Branch registered an FIR under Sections 103(1) (murder), 109 (abetment of a crime), 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 3(5) (general explanations) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), read with Sections 3 (possession or carrying of firearms or ammunition), 5 (sale or transfer of arms or ammunition without a license), 25 (forcibly taking firearms), and 27 (using arms) of the Arms Act. Sections 37 (carrying arms) and 135 (disobeying a lawful order) of the MPA Act were also invoked.

The case, initially registered at Nirmal Nagar Police Station, is currently being investigated by the Mumbai Crime Branch.

What Is MCOCA?

The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 commonly known as "MCOCA," is a law enacted by Maharashtra, India, in 1999 to combat organised crime and terrorism. The Act grants the State Government special powers to address these issues, including enhanced surveillance capabilities, relaxed evidentiary standards, procedural safeguards, and the imposition of additional criminal penalties, including the death penalty.