NEW DELHI: Ossification test on Dharmaraj Kashyap, an accused in the murder case of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, confirmed that he is not a minor, according to officials.
The ossification test, a medical procedure used to estimate a person’s age by analyzing the degree of bone fusion, was ordered by the Esplanade Court on Sunday following discrepancies regarding Kashyap’s age.While Kashyap claimed to be 17 years old, prosecutors pointed out that his Aadhaar card indicated he was 19.
After the test results were presented in court, Kashyap was remanded into police custody until October 21. A police spokesperson said, “His lawyer claimed that he was a minor. The test was conducted, and it was confirmed that he is not a minor. He was produced in court, and the court has granted police custody till October 21.”
Gurmail Singh, another suspect in the murder case, has also been remanded into the custody of the Mumbai crime branch until October 21. Meanwhile, police are still searching for a third shooter, identified as Shivakumar, who is absconding.
Mumbai Police on Sunday arrested another accused, Pravin Lonkar, aged 28, in Pune. Lonkar is the brother of Shubham Lonkar, who is also implicated in the conspiracy. The Lonkar brothers are believed to have enlisted Dharmaraj Kashyap and Shivkumar Gautam in the plot to kill Siddique.
Baba Siddique was shot outside his office in Nirmal Nagar, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday night. His last rites were performed with full state honors in Mumbai at Bada Qabrastan on Sunday.
Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde addressed the law and order situation following Siddique’s murder, saying, “Yesterday’s incident is unfortunate and sad. Mumbai Police have arrested two persons—one from UP and the other from Haryana. The third accused is absconding… He will be arrested soon. They will not be spared, no matter who they are, be it the Bishnoi gang or any underworld gang. Strict action will be taken.”
Shinde assured the public that those receiving threats would have their safety ensured, highlighting that it is the state government’s responsibility to maintain law and order.
