Mumbai police are currently investigating multiple angles in the murder case of former minister Baba Siddique, including possible disputes related to Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme projects. Siddique had business interests in real estate through his associates and had previously come under scrutiny by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for his involvement in the SRA project of Jamaat-e-Jamhooria slums in Bandra Reclamation.
In 2017, Siddique was raided and questioned by the ED regarding allegations of manipulation in the slum redevelopment project, which occurred during his tenure as Mhada chairman in 2002. It was alleged that a developer had misrepresented the number of eligible slum dwellers to gain more floor space index (FSI) in the project. The ED’s investigation resulted in the attachment of 33 upscale flats in the saleable building on the plot, after it was discovered that fictitious illegal slum dwellers had been introduced using forged ration cards, many of which were issued on Sundays.
However, the case faced setbacks when the Bandra police report revealed that the ration cards were genuine and that the department responsible for issuing the cards did operate on Sundays during that period. Despite this, the ED shared its findings with the SRA, indicating that their investigation had uncovered the generation of additional FSI on the plot through the use of forged documents.
