Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday stirred controversy by linking the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique to Gujarat, claiming the so-called underworld is being controlled from the coastal state. Raut alleged that Lawrence Bishnoi, a gangster imprisoned in Gujarat’s Sabarmati jail, had assumed responsibility for the murder, posing a direct challenge to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who hails from the same state.
In his sharp remarks, Raut called on NCP chief Ajit Pawar to demand Shah’s resignation in light of Siddique’s killing. “A gangster in Gujarat’s Sabarmati jail, in the custody of the Gujarat ATS, takes responsibility for Baba Siddique’s murder. This is a direct challenge to the Union Home Minister. Ajit Pawar should demand Amit Shah’s resignation,” Raut stated.
The Shiv Sena MP went on to criticize the current Maharashtra government, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, suggesting that the administration was complicit in allowing underworld activities to flourish. “I had said earlier that after this government came to power, gang wars and the influence of the underworld in Mumbai could rise. This government has the backing of the underworld, which is being run from Gujarat. Today, ₹5,000 crore worth of drugs were seized in Gujarat—this implies that drugs worth ₹50,000 crore have already been distributed across the country,” he added.
Raut also challenged CM Shinde, invoking the “Singham” persona the chief minister had taken on following a police encounter in the Badlapur sexual assault case. “He declared himself ‘Singham’ after shooting Akshay Shinde. Now show this ‘Singhamgiri’ here. If you are courageous, go after the conspirators behind Baba Siddique’s murder,” Raut urged.
Baba Siddique, a prominent socialite and politician with close connections to Bollywood, was shot dead by three bike-borne assailants on Saturday night while setting off firecrackers. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang, in a social media post, claimed responsibility for the murder, allegedly due to Siddique’s association with actor Salman Khan.
The murder has shocked the political and entertainment communities, raising questions about security and the influence of criminal syndicates. Meanwhile, police investigations are ongoing, with key suspects arrested and interrogations underway.