Who is Zeeshan Akhtar? Key conspirator in Baba Siddique murder case 'arrested' in Canada

Maharashtra minister confirmed the arrest of Zeeshan Akhtar in Canada. Authorities are taking steps to bring him back to India for interrogation.

Updated on: Jun 12, 2025, 11:51:27 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Zeeshan Akhtar, an alleged key conspirator in the murder of Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique, has been “arrested” in Canada, Maharashtra minister of state for home Yogesh Kadam said on Wednesday.

Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's brother Anmol Bishnoi had given a contract to Zeeshan Akhtar (left in pic) and Shubham Lonkar to carry out the NCP leader Baba Siddique's murder.

Zeeshan Akhtar 22, was reportedly held in a fake passport case.

"Zeeshan, who was involved in the Baba Siddique murder case, has been arrested in Canada. We have initiated the process to bring him back to India. We will interrogate him further (after bringing him back)," Yogesh Kadam told the media.

Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister, was shot dead in Bandra area in Mumbai on October 12, 2024. Police have arrested at least 25 persons in the case so far.

Who is Zeeshan Akhtar?

The Mumbai Police said jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's brother Anmol Bishnoi had given a contract to Zeeshan Akhtar and Shubham Lonkar to carry out the NCP leader's murder.
The Punjab Police had named Akhtar as a key conspirator behind the grenade attack on senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former state minister Manoranjan Kalia’s house in the wee hours on April 7. No one was injured in the attack.
Punjab Police special director general of police Arpit Shukla had named Akhtar as the key accused.
He was also booked for a grenade attack on YouTuber Rozer Sandhu’s house on March 16. However, the grenade didn’t explode.
The crime branch of the Mumbai Police began an investigation into a video of Zeeshan Akhtar in February, in which he claimed to have secured asylum in a foreign country with the help of Pakistani gangster Shehzad Bhatti.
In the video, he also said that Bhatti, whom he called his “elder brother”, had helped him secure asylum in an unknown country, outside Asia. Police confirmed that the person seen in the video, which was circulated widely online, is indeed Zeeshan Akhtar but were investigating other details.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.