Shiv Kumar Gautam, the main suspect in the assassination of former minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique, revealed to authorities that he lingered outside Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital after the shooting to confirm whether Siddique had survived. Gautam, who had quickly changed his shirt after carrying out the attack, mingled among the crowd near the hospital for nearly 30 minutes, ensuring his identity remained concealed. He only left once he learned that Siddique’s condition was critical, cementing the 66-year-old leader’s tragic fate.
Siddique was shot on the evening of October 12 around 9:11 pm in Bandra. He was struck twice in the chest and was immediately rushed to Lilavati Hospital. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving.
Gautam disclosed that his original plan was to meet his associates, Dharmaraj Kashyap and Gurmail Singh, at Ujjain railway station, where a member of the Bishnoi gang was supposed to escort them to Vaishno Devi. However, their plans fell apart when Kashyap and Singh were detained by law enforcement, leaving Gautam to execute the attack alone.
Gautam’s Flight and Capture
After the shooting, Gautam embarked on a complex escape route. His arrest on Sunday followed a series of suspicious activities involving his associates. These individuals, who had maintained constant contact with Gautam through internet calls, purchased phones in Lucknow to assist with his planned flight from the country. Authorities discovered that they had also procured clothing in various sizes, suggesting they were preparing for a long-term escape. Police monitored their movements and eventually intercepted the group near the Nepal border, preventing their attempt to flee.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Gautam traveled from Bandra to Kurla, then took a local train to Thane before fleeing to Pune. There, he disposed of his phone and spent several days in hiding. Gautam then made his way to Jhansi and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, evading capture for over a week.
A joint operation by the Mumbai Crime Branch and Uttar Pradesh Police STF eventually led to Gautam’s arrest near the Nepal border. He was found in a remote village around 10 km from Nanpara, a town in Uttar Pradesh, where he had sought refuge. His capture marked the end of a days-long manhunt, bringing an end to his flight from justice.
