In a startling development in the Baba Siddique murder case, the Mumbai Crime Branch claims that fugitive accused Zeeshan Akhtar has established links with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and is currently hiding in Nepal.
Sources within the Crime Branch revealed that Zeeshan, who has so far evaded arrest, is believed to be operating from across the border with help from Pakistan’s intelligence agency. This ISI connection surfaced following a viral social media post asserting that Zeeshan is not affiliated with the Bishnoi gang.
The post prompted Mumbai Police to launch a fresh line of inquiry. According to investigators, Zeeshan’s alleged involvement in the recent grenade attack at BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia’s residence in Jalandhar has led the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to distance itself from him. Punjab Police, which is probing the attack, suspects that Zeeshan conspired with gangster Shehzad Bhatti — an alleged ISI operative.
This marks the second time Zeeshan’s name has been linked with Bhatti. Earlier this year, in February, he released a video from an undisclosed foreign location claiming he was falsely implicated in the Baba Siddique murder and had received help from Bhatti. While Punjab Police believed he might be in Azerbaijan or another European country, Crime Branch sources insist he is hiding in Nepal.
Investigators also revealed that Zeeshan’s role in the Jalandhar grenade attack was confirmed after two arrested accused named him during interrogation. It is now suspected that Zeeshan is operating from a foreign location under ISI’s direction and may be used to carry out anti-India activities.
Zeeshan, a native of Jalandhar, was arrested in 2022 and lodged in Patiala jail until his release in June 2024. He faces several charges in Punjab including murder, attempted murder, and robbery. Police records indicate strong ties to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and connections to Pune-based gangster Saurabh Mahakal, who was earlier questioned in the threat letter case involving actor Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan.
