Pune man 16th accused of arrest in Siddique murder case, he was part of conspiracy: Police | India News – Times of India

MUMBAI: A 23-year-old man, who was allegedly part of the conspiracy to kill NCP leader Baba Siddique was arrested in Pune on Wednesday, police said, making him the 16th suspect held in connection with the high-profile murder. Gaurav Vilas Apune, a resident of Karvenagar in Pune city, is a key attacker in the case as he was in direct contact with wanted suspect Shubham Lonkar and arrested suspect Ram Kanoujia, an official said.
The 16th person arrested in the case was part of the conspiracy to kill the former Maharashtra minister in Mumbai last month, he said. He was produced before a local court, which sent him to police custody until November 13 Mumbai Crime Branchwho investigated the case, detained the suspect after interrogation of some of the arrested suspects revealed his involvement in the conspiracy to attack Siddique, the official said.
During interrogation, it came to light that he was assured of Rs 25 lakh, a flat tire and a vehicle for killing the NCP leader, he said. Apune had been trained in the use of firearms by some of the absconding suspects. He had also fired bullets as part of weapons training, the official said. The 23-year-old had a firearm and bullets with him, which he gave to one of the wanted suspects. A search was underway for the gun he had in his possession, he said. Siddique (66) was shot dead by three gunmen in Mumbai’s Bandra district on October 12. Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s jailed younger brother Anmol, who was believed to be living in Canada and traveling regularly to the US, was believed to be behind the murder, but there was a motive behind it. Still not clear, according to police.