Special court allows Baba Siddique's wife to assist prosecution in murder case

Mumbai: A special court on Saturday permitted the wife of the late former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique to intervene in the proceedings of his murder case. Siddique, 66, was shot dead last Oct by three assailants outside his son Zeeshan's office in the Bandra (East) area on the night of Oct 12, 2024.

The late NCP leader's wife, Shehzeen Siddique , said she suffered an irreparable loss and that it was of utmost importance for her to "put on record the true and correct facts." Hence, she filed an intervention application last month. The special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act ( MCOCA ) judge, B D Shelke, allowed her plea, which will enable her to assist the prosecution, marking a significant development in the legal proceeding, said her lawyers.

"The audacious attack, executed in one of the city's most affluent and bustling neighbourhoods, has left behind a trail of grief and outrage for the family of the deceased," the application, filed through advocates Pradeep Gharat and Trivankumar Karnani, said.

She mentioned that there are several important aspects that require "due and proper" weightage. Police filed a charge sheet against 26 arrested people, while Anmol Bishnoi, brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, and two others have been shown as wanted accused in the case.

The special judge, after referring to judgments cited by her lawyer, and hearing lawyers DD Lalwani and others for the accused, noted that it was quite clear that the heirs of the deceased are covered in the definition of victim and they have the right to participate in the hearing of the matter and they are required to be given adequate opportunity of hearing. "Hence, I do not find much substance in the arguments advanced on behalf of (eight) accused," said the Judge, allowing her plea. The accused have been booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and are currently in judicial custody.