MUMBAI: The police are investigating various angles in the murder of former minister Baba Siddique, including any dispute related to Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme projects, reports .
Siddique had interests in real estate through his associates and previously faced an ED investigation for his involvement in the SRA project of the Jamaat-e-Jamhooria slums in Bandra Reclamation.In 2017, he was raided and questioned by the ED.
In 2002, when Siddique was Mhada chairman, it was alleged a developer obtained the slum redevelopment project by manipulating the number of eligible slum dwellers. This gave the developer more floor space index (FSI) in the project.
The ED investigation led to the attachment of 33 posh flats in the saleable building on the plot. It was found found fictitious illegal slum dwellers were introduced using forged ration cards, most of which were issued on Sundays. However, the case collapsed after the Bandra police report stated they found the ration cards to be genuine and that the department concerned was working on Sundays during that period to issue the ration cards. The ED shared its findings with the SRA, stating their investigation showed additional FSI was generated on the plot using forged documents.