Mumbai: Cop suspended over lapses in Baba Siddique’s murder

The Mumbai police have suspended constable Shyam Sonawane who was part of the security detail assigned to Baba Siddique following his assassination Preliminary investigations revealed lapses in Sonawanes actions He was present at the scene when Siddique was shot but claimed his vision was impaired due to smoke from firecrackers The other constable who was on duty earlier had left at 8 pm as part of his routine shift changeBaba Siddique had a 21 security arrangement with two constables on duty from 8 am to 8 pm and one constable for the night shift On the night of the assassination Siddique was walking towards his car when two assailants shot him and the security personnel failed to follow the standard operating procedure SOP A departmental inquiry has been initiated to investigate the actions of Sonawane and to determine why he did not respond according to protocolNCP leader Baba Siddique was shot dead in Bandramidday attempted to contact the additional commissioner of security and protection PampS multiple times over the last three days However despite instructions from senior Mumbai police officials she did not respond to the reporterrsquos calls or messagesZeeshan Siddique Babarsquos son raised concerns about the failure of the security personnel to defend his father The investigation is ongoing and the statements of the security team and driver are being recorded for further clarityAccording to sources Sonawane who was present with Baba Siddique on the day of the assassination was a few feet away from him when Siddique stepped out of Zeeshanrsquos office in Kherwadi and headed towards his car which was parked about 150 metres away Sources also stated that as per the SOP and the training provided to protection staff they are required to remain in close proximity or ldquoin the shadowrdquo of their protectee at all times especially when they are attending public meetingsSonawane whose statement led to the registration of the FIR of murder against the shooters said that Baba Siddique had been in a meeting at Zeeshanrsquos office and left around 930 pm to go home As he walked towards his Range Rover the constable called the driver to bring the car closer At the same time the constable noticed what he thought were firecrackers causing smoke that made his eyes burn It was then that two unknown assailants fired at Baba Siddique causing him to collapse Sonawane also claimed he saw three unidentified individuals fleeing the scene on footSonawane further claimed that he along with one of Baba Siddiquersquos workers and his driver rushed him to Lilavati hospital where he was declared dead According to sources during his meeting with Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar and Joint Commissioner of Crime Lakhmi Gautam Zeeshan sought clarity regarding his fatherrsquos security personnel particularly why they did not fire at the shooter ldquoWe have initiated a departmental inquiry and have recorded their detailed statements to gain more clarity We will also record the statement of the deceasedrsquos driver to understand where the car was parked and whyrdquo an officer saidOn Friday Zeeshan met with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a meeting that included Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and senior NCP leader Praful Patel After the meeting Fadnavisrsquos office issued a statement saying ldquoZeeshan Siddique met with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today with Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel also present Senior police officials were in attendance as well During the meeting police officers briefed the family specifically Zeeshan on the progress made so far in the investigation and the direction it is heading in the Baba Siddique murder case The purpose of the meeting was to provide the family with updates on the investigationrdquoOct 12Day Siddique was killed