Shraddha Walkar murder accused Aftab faces threat from Lawrence Bishnoi gang; Tihar prison on high alert

Mumbai: The Tihar Jail Administration has increased security around Aftab Poonawala, the accused in the Shraddha Walkar murder case, after receiving intelligence suggesting that he may be on the radar of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The authorities are not taking any chances and have implemented additional security measures to ensure his safety in prison.

A failed meeting

Bishnoi Gang mastermind Shubham Lonkar earlier targeted Aftab Poonawala. During the investigation into the Baba Siddique murder case, it was revealed that Shubham Lonkar, the mastermind and a wanted suspect, had earlier planned to kill Aftab Poonawala in Delhi. Poonawala is accused of killing his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar, dismembering her body and keeping her in a refrigerator.

In November and December 2022, Lonkar, along with a few associates, conducted surveillance in Delhi and the Saket court area for almost a month, with the intention of attacking Poonawala outside the court during one of his police hearings. However, the plan failed as Lonkar could not find shooters for the job. In January 2023, Lonkar and his brother were arrested by Akola’s Akot Police in an arms case. The Maharashtra Police shared this information with the Delhi Police, leading to increased security for Poonawala, who was kept in cell number 4 of Tihar Jail.

The information that Aftab Poonawala, the accused in the Shraddha Walkar murder case, is on the radar of the Bishnoi gang was first reported by Free Press Journal (FPJ). This report has been acknowledged by the concerned security agencies, leading to increased security measures for Aftab in Tihar Jail.

Confession of Shiv Kumar Gautam

Baba Siddhique murder planned after shooting at Salman Khan’s house: Further interrogation of gunman Shiv Kumar Gautam revealed that the Bishnoi gang started planning the murder of Baba Siddhique about a month after firing at Salman Khan’s house. Gang members conducted a reconnaissance of Siddhique’s residence and office before executing the plan.

Shiv Kumar Gautam also confessed that after killing Siddhique on October 12, he had a conversation with Shubham Lonkar through an encrypted app. Despite his actions, Gautam showed no remorse and seemed highly radicalized by the Bishnoi gang.

After Siddhique’s murder, Shiv Kumar Gautam walked 200 meters away, changed his shirt behind a parked vehicle, left his phone and bag behind and returned to the crime scene. He even contacted a police officer who investigated the incident and claimed he didn’t see anyone fleeing. Gautam later visited Lilavati Hospital, where Siddique was declared brought dead, before fleeing to Kurla railway station in an auto-rickshaw.