Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 9 (HBTV): Following the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, the Mumbai Crime Branch has revealed that another prominent leader from Pune was also on the Lawrence Bishnoi gang's radar, with plans to eliminate him using designated shooters.

According to a senior officer from the Mumbai Crime Branch, investigations have uncovered that after Baba Siddique’s killing, a major Pune leader was also targeted by the Bishnoi gang.

“The Lawrence Bishnoi gang was planning to kill the Pune leader, and the responsibility for carrying out the crime was given to shooters involved in Plan B,” the official said.

The case came to light after the Crime Branch recovered a pistol intended for use in the planned attack. While the Crime Branch has not disclosed the name of the Pune leader, it has shared key intelligence with Pune Police. Authorities are investigating whether a reconnaissance was conducted by the suspects involved, according to the senior officer.

On Friday, the Mumbai Crime Branch arrested a shooter named Gaurav Vilas Apune in connection with Baba Siddique's murder.

The investigation revealed that Apune, a shooter for the Bishnoi gang’s Plan B in the Siddique murder, had traveled to Jharkhand to practice firing. During interrogation, Apune disclosed that Plan B was a backup strategy if Plan A failed. Another accused, Rupesh Mohol, who was arrested earlier, had accompanied Apune to Jharkhand for practice.

Further interrogation indicated that the mastermind, Shubham Lonkar, had arranged for both Mohol and Apune to practice in Jharkhand on July 28, supplying them with necessary weapons. They trained for a day before returning to Pune on July 29, after which they reconnected with Lonkar, as confirmed by the Crime Branch.

Mumbai Crime Branch officials are working to locate the precise site in Jharkhand where the firing practice was conducted. 

(ANI)