A sensational revelation has emerged in the Baba Siddique murder case. The chargesheet filed by the Mumbai Crime Branch in the MCOCA court on Monday reveals that two accused from a Pune-based gang, already arrested for Siddique’s murder, had also planned to kill the son of a retired police officer.
Rupesh Mohol and Gaurav Apune, along with absconding co-conspirator Shubham Lonkar, had allegedly made detailed preparations to murder the officer’s son. However, they were arrested in connection with Siddique’s murder before they could carry out the attack.
According to Crime Branch sources, the motive behind the planned killing was revenge. The accused believed that the officer’s son was involved in a conspiracy to murder their close friend, Jaydeep Bhondkar (22), who was killed in September 2024 in Pune’s Uttam Nagar area. Bhondkar was allegedly murdered by Amit Sudam Gurjar (21), and the accused suspected the officer’s son had aided Gurjar in the crime.
The Crime Branch has shared this intelligence with the Uttam Nagar police in Pune to ensure the officer’s son receives adequate security.
Further details from the investigation reveal that Bhondkar was killed on September 7-8, 2024, when Gurjar attacked him with a koita (a sharp weapon). Both knew each other, and an argument escalated into violence after a friendly exchange turned sour. Gurjar called Bhondkar outside his house under the pretence of needing help and then murdered him. Mohol and Apune were convinced that the retired officer’s son not only helped Gurjar but also played a key role in plotting the murder.
According to statements recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC in the Baba Siddique case, Mohol and Apune admitted to planning the retired police officer’s son’s murder. They confessed to procuring weapons with Shubham’s help and were preparing to use the same arms for the attack. During the investigation, the Crime Branch recovered two firearms and multiple rounds of ammunition from the accused, intended for the planned killing. They also revealed that the gang had practised firing the weapons near Khadakwasla Dam before attempting the murder.
