Supreme Court Upholds Bail in Baba Siddique Murder Case: Evidentiary Thresholds, MCOCA Constraints, and the Limits of Appellate Interference
1. Introduction In a significant reaffirmation of bail jurisprudence and evidentiary standards , the Supreme Court of India declined to cancel the bail granted to an accused in the high-profile murder case of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique. The ruling underscores the judiciary’s commitment to individualised criminal liability , even in cases involving allegations of organised crime. 2. Factual Background The case arises from the murder of Baba Siddique, a three-time MLA and senior leader, who was shot dead on October 12, 2024 , in Mumbai’s Bandra (East) area outside his son’s office. The accused, Akashdeep Karaj Singh, aged 22, was arrested in November 2024 from a border village in Punjab. He became the first accused to secure bail in the case from the Bombay High Court on February 9. The prosecution alleged links between Singh and the Bishnoi organised crime syndicate , purportedly orchestrated by Anmol Bishnoi. The bail order was challenged by the deceased’s widow, Shehze...