The Maharashtra government has provided a crucial assurance to the Bombay High Court, pledging to re-evaluate the security cover of former legislator Zeeshan Siddique within the next ten days. This commitment comes after the court heard that Siddique's protection was significantly reduced despite his family receiving fresh extortion threats as recently as August 2025.
Security Scaled Down Amid Ongoing Threats
The government informed the court that Zeeshan Siddique's security detail was downgraded from the Y+ category to just two police constables. This reduction occurred even though Siddique has been identified as the primary target in the chargesheet related to a grave crime. The plea before the court highlighted this alarming discrepancy, arguing that the scaling down happened in the face of persistent threats.
The context of these threats is deeply tragic. Zeeshan is the son of slain Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique. The former state minister and MLA was shot dead on October 12 last year by three assailants outside his son Zeeshan's office in Mumbai's Bandra (East) area.
Court Hearing and Government's Submission
A bench comprising Justices Ajey S. Gadkari and Ranjitsinha R. Bhonsale was hearing a petition filed by Shehzeen Siddique, the widow of Baba Siddique. Her plea seeks a court-monitored investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the murder.
During the hearing on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Advocate General Milind Sathe, representing the state, outlined the review process. He stated that Siddique's security protocol would be re-assessed by the Threat Perception Committee (TPC). This committee, which includes the Commissioner of Police and four other senior officers, follows established norms for such evaluations.
Sathe explained that the TPC often makes decisions on a "circulation basis," where members do not need to convene physically but circulate their decisions for collective review. He revealed that a threat perception review for Zeeshan Siddique was already conducted in April of this year, prior to the filing of the current petition, and reasons for scaling down the security were provided by the concerned authorities.
Committee's Decision and Next Steps
In a notable detail, the Advocate General added that while the TPC had initially decided to reduce Siddique's cover to just one policeman, the Mumbai Police Commissioner, as the panel's head, later enhanced it to two personnel. Following the government's assurance of a fresh review within ten days, the High Court scheduled the next hearing for January 13.
The court also noted that if the Siddique family is dissatisfied with the outcome of the TPC's review, they have the liberty to approach the High Court's vacation bench for urgent relief. This direction provides a recourse for the family amidst their ongoing security concerns.
The case underscores the tension between procedural security reviews and the palpable, immediate dangers faced by public figures and their families, especially in the aftermath of violent crimes. The court's intervention has now set a clear, ten-day deadline for the state to re-examine the threat level and provide appropriate protection.
