Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, May 11: The Mumbai Police has dismissed constable Shyam Sonawane, who was previously assigned as the personal bodyguard of former NCP leader Baba Siddique, on charges of negligence of duty linked to Siddique’s murder case.

Siddique, aged 66, was shot dead on the night of October 12, 2024, outside the Bandra office of his son and MLA Zeeshan Siddique. The attack involved three assailants and took place in a high-security area, raising serious questions about security arrangements.

According to officials, Sonawane was attached to the Protection and Security Branch of the Mumbai Police and had been deployed for Siddique’s security detail at the time of the incident. Following the killing, he was immediately suspended and a departmental inquiry was initiated.

The inquiry concluded that the constable had failed in his duties, leading to a formal show-cause notice asking why disciplinary action, including dismissal, should not be taken against him. After reviewing the findings, the police department issued an order removing him from service. Sonawane acknowledged the dismissal order on May 2.

The case continues to be part of a wider investigation into the high-profile murder. In November 2025, Anmol Bishnoi, brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, was deported from the United States and brought to New Delhi in connection with the case, becoming one of the key accused in the probe led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Earlier, in June 2025, another alleged conspirator, Zeeshan Akhtar, was arrested in Canada as part of international efforts to track suspects linked to the killing. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and involves multiple accused across different countries.

The murder of Baba Siddique had triggered widespread concern over political security arrangements in Mumbai, prompting reviews of protective protocols for public figures.