Mumbai Oct 18 (UNI) Mumbai Crime Branch on Friday arrested five persons in connection with the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, taking the total number of those nabbed in the sensational case to nine.
All five were produced before a local court which remanded them into police custody till Oct 25.
Based on specific information, raids were carried out by the Crime Branch in Panvel and Karjat in neighbouring Raigad district, leading to the arrest of these five persons for conspiracy related to the crime and its execution, an official said.
Those arrested are Nitin Sapre (32) from Dombivli; Ram Kanojia (44) from Ambernath; Sambhaji Kisan Pardhi (43) from Panvel; Pradeep thombre (37) from Ambernath and Chetan Pardhi (27) from Ambernath.
According to Joint Commissioner of Police Lakshmi Gautam, Nitin Sapre was in touch with the main conspirator and he had supplied weapons. Certain financial transactions were also carried out and he supplied three pistols to the accused persons.
The arrestees were also in touch with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which is accused of gunning down Siddique, the official added.
While moving the remand application, police said the accused were involved in the conspiracy to murder the NCP leader.
The court was also told that during the investigation with other arrested accused the role of these five accused were established and their mobile number were found in the sized mobile of the prime accused.
Sheela Gupta, who appeared on behalf of the five accused, opposed sending them to police custody and denied all allegations made by the police.
She said the accused were labourers and got arrested on suspicious grounds and hence they should be remanded in judicial custody.
The court rejected her plea and remanded them into police custody.
