In the murder case of NCP's late leader Baba Siddiqui, arrested accused Amol Gaikwad has made several shocking revelations during interrogation by the Mumbai Crime Branch. Gaikwad stated that he was in constant contact with the mastermind of the murder and wanted accused Shubham Lonkar via the Signal app.
Mumbai: In the murder case of NCP's late leader Baba Siddiqui, arrested accused Amol Gaikwad has made several shocking revelations during interrogation by the Mumbai Crime Branch. Gaikwad stated that he was in constant contact with the mastermind of the murder and wanted accused Shubham Lonkar through "dabba calling" and the Signal app. According to Gaikwad, these two mediums were used to make it difficult for the police and investigation agencies to trace their location. This method has become a primary tool for covert communication and planning among criminals.
Revelation of Contact with Shubham Lonkar
The Crime Branch investigation revealed that from October 1, 2024, to October 12, 2024, Gaikwad was continuously in contact with Shubham Lonkar's brother, Pravin Lonkar. During this period, several discussions took place regarding the conspiracy to murder Baba Siddiqui. Contact was temporarily suspended after the murder, but it resumed between the two once Shubham Lonkar reached Canada.
A senior official stated that even a few weeks before Gaikwad's arrest, he was communicating with Shubham Lonkar via "dabba calling" and the Signal app. However, Shubham Lonkar's location has not yet been ascertained. Investigation agencies are making every possible effort to trace him.
Gaikwad's Criminal Network
According to sources, Amol Gaikwad revealed that Shubham Lonkar had also involved him in the murder of Punjab textile merchant Sanjay Verma in July 2025. Gaikwad made complete arrangements for sheltering the shooters and providing logistical support. Gaikwad is a named accused in this case, and the Punjab Police are set to arrive in Mumbai to take him into custody.
As per information, a team from the Punjab Police will arrive in Mumbai this week and obtain Gaikwad's custody from the Crime Branch. Prior to this, the Mumbai Crime Branch conducted important interrogations with Gaikwad, uncovering his role and Shubham Lonkar's network.
Gaikwad's revelations make it clear that Shubham Lonkar's criminal network is extensive and organized. The use of "dabba calling" and encrypted messaging apps is a continuous practice by criminals to evade police detection. Gaikwad also admitted to actively participating in tasks such as the murder and providing logistical support.
