Salman Khan Firing, Baba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Seeks Centre’s Help to Question Anmol Bishnoi

Mumbai Police has sought the Centre’s intervention to question gangster Anmol Bishnoi, who has been named as a wanted accused and alleged mastermind in the murder of former Maharashtra minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique. The move comes after months of pressure from a special court and as the trial against the other accused in the case is set to begin.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the request was sent to the Maharashtra government last week, seeking the Union Home Ministry’s intervention for a temporary withdrawal or relaxation of an order dated December 5, 2025, that prevents Anmol from being transferred out of Delhi’s Tihar Jail.

Despite naming Anmol as a key accused in Siddique’s murder, the Mumbai Police has told the special court that it has not yet questioned him. Investigators have alleged that the 27 accused arrested so far acted on his instructions.

The request also comes days after a firing incident involving actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai’s Juhu area on October 18. An alleged overseas operative linked to the Bishnoi brothers has been identified as the main accused in that case, although neither Anmol nor his elder brother, Lawrence Bishnoi, has been named as an accused in the incident.

Why Anmol Bishnoi Cannot Be Moved Out of Tihar Jail

Anmol Bishnoi was deported from the United States and arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on November 19, 2025. Weeks later, an order was issued under Section 303 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), restricting his movement from Tihar Jail.

The provision empowers the government to prevent a person or category of persons from being transferred out of the prison where they are detained. Such restrictions may be imposed on grounds including the nature of the offence, the potential impact on public order and the broader public interest.

While the order remains in force, courts cannot direct the accused’s physical production outside the prison. Investigating agencies can question him inside the jail premises only after obtaining a court order.

Investigators have argued that these restrictions complicate the process of questioning high-profile accused. They say officials may be permitted to question a detainee only for a limited period, while the presence of other accused for joint questioning or confrontation may not be possible.

A Delhi court has already rejected a production warrant for Anmol, citing the existing government order.

A similar restriction applies to his elder brother, Lawrence Bishnoi, who is lodged in Gujarat’s Sabarmati Jail. The order concerning Lawrence was first issued in August 2023 and has reportedly been extended annually since then.

Special Court Questions Police Over Delay

The issue of questioning Anmol has repeatedly surfaced before the special court hearing the Baba Siddique murder case.

In July, Siddique’s wife, Shehzeen, approached the court through her lawyers, Pradeep Gharat and Trivenkumar Karnani, seeking directions for the police to secure Anmol’s custody and question him about the alleged motive behind the killing.

Special Judge S R Navander questioned investigators over their failure to take steps to secure the presence of a wanted accused who was already in custody in another case.

In August, the court issued a show-cause notice to the investigating officer. The police subsequently argued that the Union government’s order had created a “legal embargo” on obtaining Anmol’s physical custody, making an effective investigation difficult.

On October 21, the court again directed the police to submit details of the steps taken to secure the presence of the principal accused.

On Wednesday, investigators submitted a confidential report to the court. The matter was adjourned until next week.

The latest request to the Maharashtra government marks a significant step by the Mumbai Police to overcome the restrictions and obtain access to Anmol as the proceedings against the other accused move forward.

Baba Siddique Murder and the Bishnoi Gang Connection

Baba Siddique was shot dead outside the office of his son, former MLA Zeeshan Siddique, in Bandra East on October 12, 2024. Mumbai Police has alleged that members of the Bishnoi gang were involved in the killing.

The murder was among several high-profile incidents that brought the alleged activities of the Bishnoi network under scrutiny, including the 2024 firing incident outside actor Salman Khan’s residence in Bandra.

In the Salman Khan case, Anmol has sought permission to surrender and participate in the judicial proceedings. His plea remains pending.

The October 18 firing incident involving Tiger Shroff has also intensified political scrutiny over alleged organised crime networks and public safety in Mumbai. Anil Pandit has been named as the main accused in that case, while neither Anmol nor Lawrence has been formally named as an accused.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray criticised the state government over the incident, accusing it of failing to prevent such attacks and challenging it to bring Lawrence Bishnoi to Maharashtra.

Legal Precedent for Prison Transfer Restrictions

The use of government orders restricting the movement of accused persons has previously come before the courts.

In 2013, the Maharashtra government invoked a similar provision to restrict the production of Zabiuddin Ansari, also known as Abu Jundal, an accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks case.

The Bombay High Court declined to quash the order but permitted Ansari to participate in the trial through video conferencing from prison.

The precedent highlights the legal balance between government-imposed security restrictions and the requirements of criminal investigations and judicial proceedings.

For Mumbai Police, the immediate challenge is to find a legally permissible way to question Anmol Bishnoi in the Baba Siddique murder case. Whether the Centre grants the requested relaxation could determine how investigators proceed against the alleged mastermind as the trial of the other accused approaches.