The 11th accused arrested by Mumbai Police is suspected to have helped with logistical and financial support to alleged mastermind Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar, who is still on the run
The Mumbai Police claimed to have established a key link between one of the shooters and the alleged mastermind with the arrest of the 11th accused in the Baba Siddique murder case.
Police identified the 11th accused as 29-year-old Amit Hisamsing Kumar, who was nabbed from Haryana by the crime branch on Tuesday evening (October 22). He was brought to Mumbai on Wednesday morning and remanded in police custody till November 4.
According to police, he helped with logistical and financial support to Mohammed Zeeshan Akhtar, who is still on the run and is suspected to have masterminded the NCP politician’s murder. His role in the crime came to the fore during the interrogation of other accused in custody. He was involved in planning the murder and its execution, they said.
Police said this could be a breakthrough in the case as he is an important link between Gurmail Singh – one of the shooters in custody – and Akhtar, who in turn is the common link between the shooters and murder conspirators.
But, how did Akhtar and Amit meet?
Police said on June 7, Akhtar was released from Jalandhar jail, where he was serving a prison term in a riots case. Before this, Amit was also in Kaithal jail. As the former had several cases against him in Punjab’s Nakodar town, he decided to set his base at Kaithal in Haryana, they said.
A mutual friend of Gurmail and Amit, who live close to each other, put them in touch with Akhtar, police said. Amit would receive money in his bank account, which he would give to Akhtar, they said.
As part of the investigation, police found that several accused in the case received money in their bank accounts, but from different individuals. In Akhtar’s case, Amit is suspected to have provided monetary aid, they said. Amit received Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh from the account of a nationalised bank, which he gave to Akhtar in eight instalments, they added.
Amit, police said, is a Class 12 pass-out and runs a liquor store in Kaithal. He was aware of the plan to kill Siddique, they said.
Akhtar is suspected to be part of the Vikram Brar gang, but Amit does not belong to any such gang. He would be in touch with people from different gangs as he runs a wine shop, police said.
Akhtar did not even travel to Mumbai, but fled from Kaithal eight days before Siddique was shot. He does not hold a passport, police added.
The investigation so far
Top Mumbai Police sources said the communication for planning Siddique’s murder would take place through an app called ‘Zangi’, which is the new app used by gangs. Earlier, they also used ‘Signal’ app.
Besides, the investigation in the sensational murder case so far suggests that a five-member Thane-based module initially got the contract to kill Siddique. The module, however, backed out of the contract over disagreement on demanding a sum of Rs 50 lakh for executing the crime and given the clout of the former Maharashtra minister. They, however, provided logistical support and other help for carrying out the hit, as per police.