However, they still provided logistical and other support to those involved in carrying out the killing, news agency PTI reported citing unnamed officials.

On Friday, the crime branch arrested these five persons for allegedly supplying firearms and logistical assistance to the shooters, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to nine.

Three key suspects remain at large. The arrested individuals were identified as Nitin Gautam Sapre (32), Sambhaji Kisan Pardhi (44), Pradeep Dattu Thombre (37), Chetan Dilip Pardhi (27), and Ram Fulchand Kanoujia (43). Sapre is from Dombivli, while Pardhi, Thombre, and Pardhi are from Ambernath in Thane district, and Kanoujia is a resident of Panvel in Raigad, according to police.

"During their interrogation, the police found that the module led by Sapre had demanded ₹50 lakh from the mediator to kill NCP leader Baba Siddique. But that did not work out. So, due to the disagreement over contract, they decided to back out," PTI quoted an official as saying on Saturday.

Also, Nitin Gautam Sapre was aware that since Baba Siddique was a high-profile politician, killing him would create a huge problem for his module. Hence, they decided not to go ahead, the official added.

"But the accused persons decided to give logistical support to the new shooters and provide other help," he added.