The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed that the security arrangements for ex-MLA Zeeshan Siddique needed to be reviewed within ten days in light of repeated threats from extortionists, the most recent of which occurred in August this year. Siddique had raised concerns regarding the downgrading of his security after the fatal shooting of his father, former MLA Baba Siddiqui, in October 2024, and reported ongoing threats in both April and August.
The investigators had filed a chargesheet claiming that Baba Siddiqui was murdered by the Bishnoi gang for his proximity to actor Salman Khan. Zeeshan’s mother had submitted that after the filing of the petition, the security was downgraded to two security men from Y+ security.
However, the bench of Justices AS Gadkari and RR Bhonsale noted that this was not entirely true as the security was downgraded in April, much before Zeeshan’s mother, Shehzeen, filed the plea.
Advocate General Milind Sathe informed the court, “In view of the threats being received by Zeeshan in April as well as August, and the latest representation made by Zeeshan Siddique to the police, a review of Siddique’s security concerns would be done.” He added, “The persons who have a threat perception, their security is reviewed by a committee of policemen consisting of the city Police commissioner and others, every three months.”
Further, Sathe said that there is a set protocol for reviewing threat perception, and the committee had downgraded Zeeshan’s security to a single policeman; however, the Mumbai police Commissioner had increased it to two policemen.”
The bench has scheduled the next hearing for 10 January. If the committee does not resolve the security concerns in Zeeshan Siddique’s favour, he retains the liberty to approach the vacation bench during the year-end recess.
Meanwhile, Shehzeen Siddique, widow of Baba Siddiqui, has requested the High Court to assign the murder investigation to an independent or court-monitored agency, with periodic sealed reports to be submitted to the court.
– Ends
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