In Mumbai, responses are divided among legal experts regarding Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's pledge to expedite the Baba Siddique murder case. While some, like senior counsel Amit Desai, believe fast-tracking high-profile murder investigations can positively impact public perception, others caution against rushing justice at the expense of thoroughness. Several lawyers suggest that a speedy trial in a specialized court could help address concerns around law and order in Mumbai following the crime, but stress the importance of a comprehensive police investigation to uncover the masterminds behind the deadly incident. Once a chargesheet is filed, the case could potentially be allocated to one of the 866 fast-track courts nationwide, designated for handling serious offenses including murders, sexual crimes, and offenses against women and children. However, some legal experts mention that past experiences with fast-track courts have been hampered by resource constraints, inadequate infrastructure, and incomplete investigations. Senior criminal law advocate Majeed Memon, who recently rejoined the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party), pointed out the troubling questions raised by Siddique's violent death and the apparent lack of protection from his security team during the attack. Memon emphasized the importance of a diligent and meticulous investigation in such a grave crime, highlighting the need to build a solid case against the perpetrators to ensure justice for the victim and his family.According to veteran crime counsel Niteen Pradhan, punishment through Capital Punishment (CM) and Hanging Mode (HM) will not be effective. He emphasized the importance of expediting murder cases while ensuring thorough and credible investigations to restore public trust. The new criminal procedural code, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), mandates that police must conclude their investigations and file chargesheets within 90 days. This is a significant change as previously there was no such time restriction. In Maharashtra, there are approximately 36.5 lakh pending criminal cases, with 60% of them being over a year old. Last month, over 1.2 lakh fresh criminal cases were registered in Maharashtra, and more than 1.8 lakh cases were resolved during the same period, as per the National Judicial Data Grid. In Mumbai alone, there are 41,530 pending criminal cases in the sessions court. Furthermore, the data shows that 1,548 serious criminal cases were initiated in the sessions court last month, with 948 being disposed of. However, there is no separate data available on Fast Track Courts (FTCs).