Remember Baba Siddique: Congress MLA gets death threat from Lawrence Bishnoi gang
India Today
In the call, Shubham Lonkar could be heard repeatedly threatening Congress MLA Sajid Khan Pathan. "Remember what had happened to Baba Siddique? Now, it's your turn," the Lawrence Bishnoi gang member, the mastermind behind the shooting of NCP's Baba Siddique, told Pathan.
Maharashtra Congress MLA Sajid Khan Pathan received a threatening call by a Lawrence Bishnoi gang member, demanding Rs 10 crore. The caller identified himself as Shubham Lonkar and threatened that if the MLA fails to arrange the money, then he would end up like NCP MLA Baba Siddique, who was shot dead in 2024.
In the call, which was exclusively accessed by India Today, Lonkar could be heard repeatedly threatening Pathan. "Pata hai na Baba Siddique ko ura diya tha, ab teri bari hai. (Remember what had happened to Baba Siddique. Now, it's your turn)," the caller told Pathan.
Lonakar told the Congress MLA to arrange the money within two days lest he wanted the same fate as Siddique. Pathan explained to him that he didn't have that much money, but to no avail. The alleged Bishnoi gang member used the connection with the gangster to coerce the politician. Though Pathan told him that he might have mixed him with someone else, the caller remained defiant and kept pressing for the money.
Baba Siddique was an MLA from the Vandre West Assembly.
Shubham Lonkar is behind several high-profile cases. He was the orchestrator of the shooting of Siddique, while his brother Praveen Lonkar had offered logistics support. Additionally, he is accused in the firing incident outside Bollywood director Rohit Shetty's house on January 31. Currently on the run, Lonkar was questioned by authorities in the case of firing outside actor Salman Khan's house in 2024 but was later released.
A second patient died within 72 hours at RG Kar Hospital, with his family alleging that a lack of stretcher and basic facilities forced the critically ill man to walk 100 metres, leading to his death.
As Parliament prepares to bring amendments to the Transgender Act, activists warn the proposed changes risk rolling back years of hard-won rights.
A high-speed boat crash in the Maldives has left two Indians missing, including a celebrated rally figure, even as Gautam Singhania returns home. Search teams continue efforts amid mounting concern and unanswered questions.
A prominent seer, Pranavananda Swamiji, alleged that mutts backing Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to take over the top post were denied any allocation in the state budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He reiterated his support for Shivakumar to take over as the chief minister.
India's original Dhurandhar, Ravindra Kaushik, rose from acting at college theatres, to infiltrating the Pakistan Army as a RAW Agent. He provided critical intelligence on Pakistani troop movements and the country's nuclear programme, but died a lonely death after his betrayal and subsequent capture by the ISI.
According to the police, 19-year-old Sachin Dharmendrabhai Chaudhary, who works as a labourer, had borrowed the money before expressing his inability to repay it immediately, police said. He was allegedly threatened with his life over the delay in repayment. Fearing for his life, Sachin immediately alerted the police.
A quiet arrest in Rajasthan has unravelled a wider espionage network, linking an Air Force employee to Pakistani handlers. Investigators say the trail began months ago and may reach deeper than first believed.
A 36-year-old woman plotted to murder her mother-in-law with the help of her 21-year-old lover. The murder plot was exposed by CCTV installed inside the house.
A former village pradhan who had been missing since March 18 was found dead in a sack near a canal in Pratapgarh. Police have arrested his lover, claiming she carried out the murder with accomplices.
From a Kashmiri widow parting with her late husband's cherished jewellery to children emptying their piggy banks, a wave of generosity is emerging across India as citizens step up to support people affected by the escalating conflict in Iran.