The Bombay High Court on Monday granted bail to Akashdeep Karaj Singh, one of the accused in the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, noting that the prosecution had not established a prima facie link between him and the alleged organised crime conspiracy.
Justice Neela Gokhale observed that the prosecution's case largely relied on two phone calls made by Singh, stating that "merely putting through a call... prima facie does not connect the applicant with the organised crime syndicate." The judge added that any such connection would need to be proven during the trial.
At 22 years old, Singh is the first accused to secure bail in the high-profile case. Siddique, 66, was shot dead on October 12, 2024, outside the Bandra (East) office of his son, former MLA Zeeshan Siddique. So far, the police have arrested 26 people and invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), alleging a conspiracy orchestrated by Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. A chargesheet filed earlier this year names Anmol as a wanted accused.
Singh, a resident of Punjab's Fazilka district, was arrested in November 2024, and his earlier bail application had been rejected by a sessions court. The prosecution argued that Singh was an active member of an organised crime syndicate.
However, the court found that the case against him primarily rested on allegations that he used another person's hotspot to make two calls to a co-accused. There was no material indicating that Singh was aware of or participated in organised criminal activity. The court also dismissed claims regarding international calls allegedly linked to syndicate supporters, noting that "a bare allegation unsupported by any material... does not indicate his complicity in the offence."
Justice Gokhale further highlighted that Singh's name did not appear in the confessional statements of key co-accused, stating: "The applicant's name is eloquently absent."
While recognising the seriousness of the charges and the invocation of MCOCA, the court concluded that the accusations against Singh could not be considered prima facie true at this stage. It also took into account his young age and lack of criminal record, noting that he was unlikely to commit any offences if released.
Singh was granted bail under stringent conditions, including furnishing a Rs 1 lakh personal bond with local sureties. He is prohibited from leaving Maharashtra and directed not to influence witnesses. Justice Gokhale clarified that her observations were limited to the bail proceedings, and any violation of the conditions could prompt the prosecution to seek cancellation.
