Mumbai Police dismiss bodyguard constable for negligence in Baba Siddique murder
Synopsis
Mumbai Police have dismissed the bodyguard assigned to protect Baba Siddique — the NCP leader shot dead in Bandra in October 2024 — after a departmental inquiry found him guilty of negligence. The move comes as the NIA's sprawling investigation has reached across borders, with arrests in the US and Canada among 19 accused.
Key Takeaways
Constable Shyam Sonawane , bodyguard of Baba Siddique , was officially dismissed from Mumbai Police service after being found guilty of negligence of duty.
Sonawane acknowledged his dismissal letter on 2 May 2025 ; he had been suspended immediately after Siddique's murder on 12 October 2024 .
Baba Siddique, 66 , was shot dead outside his son Zeeshan Siddique's office in Bandra by three assailants.
Anmol Bishnoi , deported from the United States , became the 19th accused arrested in the NIA probe in November 2025 .
Alleged key conspirator Zeeshan Akhtar was arrested in Canada in June 2025 .
Mumbai Police has dismissed Constable Shyam Sonawane, the personal bodyguard of slain former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique, from service on charges of negligence of duty. The dismissal letter was acknowledged by Sonawane on 2 May 2025, formally ending his tenure with the force following a departmental inquiry that found him guilty.
Background: The Baba Siddique Murder
Baba Siddique, 66, was shot dead by three assailants on the night of 12 October 2024 outside the Bandra office of his son, Zeeshan Siddique, a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). The brazen attack in one of Mumbai's most prominent localities sent shockwaves through Maharashtra's political establishment and triggered a sweeping investigation involving multiple agencies.
Constable Sonawane had been posted with the Protection and Security Branch of Mumbai Police and was specifically assigned to Siddique's security detail at the time of the killing. He was suspended immediately after the incident, and departmental proceedings were initiated against him.
Inquiry Findings and Dismissal
The departmental inquiry concluded that Sonawane was guilty of negligence of duty. Following the inquiry's findings, a show-cause notice was issued to him, asking why he should not be removed from service. After his response was considered, the Mumbai Police Department issued a formal dismissal order. Sonawane acknowledged receipt of the letter on 2 May 2025 and has since been officially removed from service.
Wider Investigation: NIA Probe and Key Arrests
The murder case has grown into one of the most high-profile organised crime investigations in recent years, now being handled by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). By November 2025, the probe had resulted in the arrest of Anmol Bishnoi — younger brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi — who was deported from the United States and brought to New Delhi. Anmol Bishnoi became the 19th accused to be arrested in the NIA case.
Notably, in March 2023, the NIA had filed a charge sheet detailing Anmol Bishnoi's alleged links with gangsters Goldy Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi in several major crimes across India between 2020 and 2023. In June 2025, Zeeshan Akhtar, an alleged key conspirator in the murder, was arrested in Canada, further underscoring the international dimensions of the case.
What Happens Next
With Sonawane's dismissal, the accountability process within the police force has taken a formal step forward. However, the criminal trial — involving 19 accused across multiple jurisdictions — is expected to be prolonged. The NIA's charge sheet and the international arrests suggest investigators believe the conspiracy extended well beyond the three assailants who pulled the trigger that night in Bandra.
Point of View
Spanning the US and Canada, points to a transnational organised crime network that local policing was clearly unprepared for. What remains unresolved is whether systemic gaps in the Protection and Security Branch — beyond one constable's conduct — have been audited and addressed. The political class, which routinely receives state-funded security, deserves a credible answer to that question.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Mumbai Police Constable Shyam Sonawane dismissed?
Constable Shyam Sonawane was dismissed from Mumbai Police service after a departmental inquiry found him guilty of negligence of duty. He had been assigned to protect former NCP leader Baba Siddique and was on duty at the time of Siddique's murder on 12 October 2024.
Who was Baba Siddique and how was he killed?
Baba Siddique was a 66-year-old former NCP leader and prominent Mumbai politician. He was shot dead by three assailants on the night of 12 October 2024 outside the Bandra office of his son Zeeshan Siddique, an MLA.
Who are the accused in the Baba Siddique murder case?
The NIA probe has so far resulted in 19 arrests. Key accused include Anmol Bishnoi, younger brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who was deported from the United States in November 2025, and Zeeshan Akhtar, an alleged key conspirator arrested in Canada in June 2025.
What is the NIA's role in the Baba Siddique murder investigation?
The National Investigation Agency is handling the broader conspiracy angle of the case. In March 2023, the NIA filed a charge sheet detailing alleged links between Anmol Bishnoi, Goldy Brar, and Lawrence Bishnoi in major crimes between 2020 and 2023, and the agency has coordinated international arrests tied to the Siddique murder.
What happens to Constable Sonawane after dismissal?
Sonawane has been officially removed from Mumbai Police service as of 2 May 2025, when he acknowledged the dismissal letter. He may pursue legal remedies against the departmental order, though no such challenge has been reported so far.
