Mumbai: Mumbai police have written to Maharashtra govt seeking easing of the restrictions applicable to Anmol Bishnoi, an accused in NCP neta and former state minister Baba Siddique’s murder, so that a formal request can be routed through the Ministry of Home Affairs to secure his custody and try him in the case, sources said on Wednesday.
Last week the judge asked to present on Oct 28 all steps taken to secure the production of Bishnoi, the principal accused. Taking the plea on record, the court noted that proclamations under Section 84 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita had been issued against both accused on July 20, 2026, and had been duly published and served, as reflected in reports dated Aug 12, 2026.
The judge in Aug had issued a show-cause notice to assistant police commissioner “for prima facie wilful disobedience” of the court’s earlier order directing steps to secure Bishnoi’s presence. Declaring them proclaimed offenders, the court said the record showed that “both the accused have absconded to evade trial” and that there appeared to be “no immediate prospect of their arrest. Before Special Judge Satyanarayan R Navander, the prosecution also filed a confidential report in a sealed envelope. Bishnoi has been lodged in Tihar jail, New Delhi, following his deportation from the US last Nov. The prosecution had filed separate applications seeking to conduct the trial against absconding accused Lonkar and Akhtar. Holding that it would be appropriate to proceed further in their absence, the court directed that the matter be listed for hearing on framing of charges against them. It also directed that an advocate from the Legal Aid Defence Counsel panel be appointed to represent the absconding accused. In a separate order, the court rejected the accused Mohol’s bail plea. Opposing Mohol’s bail, special public prosecutor Mahesh Mule alleged that he was associated with wanted accused Shubham Lonkar, attended a pre-incident meeting in Navi Mumbai with Lonkar and accused Ram Kanojia, and was linked to the movement and custody of firearms and ammunition. The prosecution relied on Mohol’s alleged confessional statement, confessional statements of co-accused, independent witness statements, call data and other material, including material relating to voice recognition of Anmol Bishnoi in recorded conversations.
Siddique’s widow, through her counsel Pradeep Gharat and advocate Trivankumar Karnani, had earlier filed an application to ensure that the accused’s presence was secured so the probe could be completed and the process for trial could commence. The court noted that both failed to appear before the court.
The development came as the special MCOCA court took up multiple proceedings in the case, including pleas to proceed against two absconding accused, Shubham Lonkar alias Shubbu and Mohammad Akthar alias Sikandar, also known by several other aliases including Zishan Akthar, Julmi, Kehi and Jassi in their absence. The court also rejected a bail plea filed by accused Rupesh Mohol.