New Delhi: Zeeshan Akhtar, one of the key accused in the murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, has claimed in a purported video that he fled India with the help of Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti.
Bhatti, who has an active social media presence, uploaded the video on his Instagram account with the caption: “…you are my brother.”
“I am Zeeshan. They have lodged a recce case against me (referring to Baba Siddique case). Shahzad bhai supported me during this difficult time. He helped me flee India. I am very far from Asia. He is like an elder brother to me. He got me asylum. Indians will know which country I am in,” Akhtar said in the video, which has since been taken down.
Akhtar then goes on to issue death threats against ‘enemies’.
Last month, the Mumbai Police filed a 4,590 page chargesheet in the Baba Siddique murder case detailing how the killing was executed.
According to investigators, the shooting was carried out at the behest of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother Anmol—a fugitive currently believed to be in the US.
While the chargesheet names 26 people as accused, Anmol Bishnoi, Shubham Lonkar and Zeeshan Akhtar have been declared absconding.
Siddique was shot on 12 October last year as he stepped out of son Zeeshan’s office in Mumbai’s Bandra East. Two accused were nabbed from the scene of the crime.
ThePrint earlier reported how Akhtar, originally from Punjab’s Jalandhar, got in touch with members of the Bishnoi gang during his time in prison. Sources said Akhtar was in touch with Lonkar and tasked the other accused with tracking Siddique’s movements.
According to investigators, Bhatti, who is suspected to be in Dubai, is a known ally of the Bishnoi gang. In June last year, a video had surfaced of Bishnoi conveying Eid wishes to Bhatti. “We are aware of the video. Investigation is on to ascertain the authenticity of the claims made in the video,” a senior Mumbai Police officer said on condition of anonymity.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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