Mumbai: The confession statement of Shivkumar Gautam alias Shiva, who allegedly shot at Baba Siddique, said that Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, convinced them to kill either Siddique or his son Zeeshan. Shiva said that they were told that the Siddiques were connected to Dawood Ibrahim and that they had links in the blast case.

The shooters were offered Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh for the murder, revealed the statement. It further narrated how Shubham and Anmol would constantly be in touch with the shooters and kept them motivated to do the job.

Shiva was one of the alleged shooters apart from Gurmail Singh and Dharmaraj Kashyap. The confession statement further said that the trio worked in a scrap dealer’s shop near the dairy of Lonkar brothers – Pravin and Shubham – the other accused.

“In June 2024, Shubham told us to kill a man named Baba Siddique or his son Zeeshan, however, he didn't tell us much about it,” read Shiva's statement, adding that they were promised Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. “So, I and Kashyap told Shubham that we are ready to kill him for the money,” read the statement, revealing that they came to the city in August 2024 and began to prepare for the hit.

“In one of the conversations, Anmol said that the person we have to kill is associated with Dawood Ibrahim and is involved in bomb blasts. He motivated us to do the work and said that if we needed any money, we can ask Shubham,” Shiva said in his statement. He further said that they were constantly asked to practice shooting, for which they went to a forest in Khopoli. They were given a weapon in the first week of September to practice, he added.

As per the statement, the trio would everyday wonder outside the Siddiques office and house, while carrying pistols. They waited for the opportune moment to strike, Shiva said, adding that they identified their targets from the posters placed outside their office.

Mental health deteriorated after mother's death: Gurmail Singh

In his confession, Gurmail Singh claimed that after the death of his mother in August 2022, his mental health deteriorated. He said that during that period Zeeshan Akhtar, a close contact of Anmol whom he met in prison, had given him shelter. Singh was offered to kill Siddique in August 2024, for which he was assured to be paid R s50,000 and relocation to abroad.

Just like Shiva, Singh too said that they would roam around the office and house of the Siddiques and collect information. For all the expenses, the funds were provided through the accounts of accused Harish Kashyap, said Singh.