 "Why Uddhav-led Sena leader Abhishek Ghosalkar was shot dead during Facebook live session")
On Thursday, Abhishek Ghosalkar, a former Shiv Sena corporator, and a prominent ex-MLA’s son, was shot dead over a personal dispute in Mumbai’s northern suburb of Borivali (West).
After being taken to a local hospital, Ghosalkar was pronounced dead.
The shocking incident occurs days after a BJP MLA was caught on camera firing at an Eknath Shinde faction leader inside a police station at Ulhasnagar raising questions over Maharashtra’s law and order situation.
Here’s all we know about it.
The Facebook-live murder
Abhishek Ghosalkar, 41, was shot dead in Borivali on Thursday evening during a social media live, allegedly by his old rival Mauris Noronha, 49, who later shot himself fatally.
The entire incident, which was live-streamed on Facebook, took place in Noronha’s office.
Noronha began the Facebook live by saying, “God bless you all,” while seated next to Ghosalkar. The Uddhav Sena leader said, “Yes, God bless you,” and then remarked, “Some people might be surprised seeing us together live.” Noronha added, “Today we came together for the good of the people of the IC colony.”
As Ghosalkar was explaining during the live session that they had come together with an amazing idea for the residents of IC Colony, Noronha left his seat only to return and take forward what Ghosalkar was saying. He said, “By the grace of God, something good will come,” and added that they would be giving sarees from his office. Noronha again leaves his seat for a few moments. “Since we are united now, we will work for the people,” Ghosalkar continues.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“It is very important that whatever we do we do it for the good of people. Abhishek Bhai is so busy, he is leaving tomorrow. I made him wait for more than half an hour with one pledge in mind – how can we serve the IC colony,” Noronha says as he returns to continue the live. “This is the beginning. This is our New Year resolution….we will go outside and we will start,” Ghosalkar said as bullets began to rain down on him.
The viral video of the incident showed Ghosalkar being shot in the abdomen and shoulder. There are also three additional gunshots audible in the video. A senior police official told news agency PTI that Abhishek Ghosalkar was hit by four bullets. Mauris Noronha, who used an illegal pistol for the crime, then shot himself once, he added.
When police arrived, Abhishek Ghosalkar reportedly was alive, as per Hindustan Times. Both the accused and the alleged assailant were taken to Karuna Hospital in Borivali in critical condition where they succumbed to their injuries.
‘Personal enmity’
Ghosalkar and Noronha had personal enmity but the Facebook live was to clarify that they have come together ending their bitterness for the betterment of the IC Colony area in Borivali, an official told PTI.
The two had just reconciled, and it has been reported that Abhishek was invited to an event at Noronha’s office, when the latter is said to have shot Ghosalkar before taking his own life.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mauris Noronha, a poker player, had a good reputation for helping thousands of poor people. He was recently back in Mumbai from Los Angeles. His plans to run in the next Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections were derailed when Abhishek Ghosalkar opposed his candidacy, according to another report by Hindustan Times.
The matter worsened in 2022 when the 49-year-old was arrested by the MHB Colony police on charges of raping, blackmailing, cheating, and threatening a 48-year-old homemaker to pay Rs 88 lakh since 2014.
Suspecting that Abhishek Ghosalkar was the cause of his legal issues, Noronho allegedly devised a plan and shot Ghosalkar several times before ending his own life.
In a post on X, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed that Shinde asked Noronha to join the Shinde-led Shiv Sena after they met four days prior at the chief minister’s official residence, Varsha. Raut also called for the resignation of Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
महाराष्ट्रात गुंडांचे राज्य सुरू आहे असे मी रोज सांगत आहे.
— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) February 8, 2024
मुख्यमंत्री आणि त्यांचे बाळराजे रोज गुंड टोळ्याना भेटतात.पक्षात प्रवेश देतात.गृहमंत्री अदृश्य झाले आहेत..राज्य गुंडांच्या तावडीत आहे.म्हणूनच कायद्याची भीती उरली नसून पोलिस हे शिंदे गँगच्या सेवेसाठीच उरले आहेत.
अभिषेक… pic.twitter.com/Q4LSeXzO2F
One person arrested
In this case, two FIRs—one for murder and the other for suicide—have been filed. The Mumbai Police’s Crime Branch has taken over the investigation into this tragic incident.
Following the shooting of the Shiv Sena UBT leader, Mumbai police have made one arrest, according to NDTV. Mehul Parikh, the individual who was arrested, was reportedly present at the scene when the shootings happened.
In the live stream, Noronha stands up to greet Mehul Parikh. The shootings take place soon after this. The police are looking into if Parikh was aware of the incident beforehand or if he had any involvement in it.
DCP (crime branch) Raj Tilak Roushan told ANI that (forensic) samples are being collected and the matter is being investigated from all angles.
About Abhishek Ghosalkar
Ghosalkar was a former Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) corporator from Shiv Sena UBT led by Uddhav Thackeray. He also served as the director of the Mumbai District Central Co-operative Bank.
The son of former Shiv Sena MLA from Dahisar Vinod Ghosalkar was elected as a corporator in 2012 from Ward number 1 in the BMC.
After the split in the Sena, Ghosalkar, a resident of Dahisar’s Kandarpada area, decided to join with Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena. He was considered close to Aaditya Thackeray and well-known for solving citizens’ issues.
He tied the knot with Tejasvee Darekar in 2013.
‘Lawlessness like never before’
Aaditya Thackeray, the leader of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), criticised the Maharashtra administration led by Ekanth Shinde on Thursday night for the killing of Sena corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar, claiming that the state is experiencing “lawlessness like never before.”
“Maharashtra has seen lawlessness like never before. It is shocking beyond words to see the law and order situation fail, as it has today. Does the system exist at all to protect the common man? Does the fear of the law exist? Administration has fully crumbled to being absent,” he said.
Maharashtra has seen lawlessness like never before. It is shocking beyond words to see the law and order situation fail, as it has today.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) February 8, 2024
Does the system exist at all to protect the common man? Does the fear of the law exist?
Administration has fully crumbled to being absent.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also slammed the state government, by saying, “Absolutely heartbroken and have no words to express the sadness I feel for the blatant disregard for law and order in Mumbai. Shame on the illegitimate government , how many more bali(s) would satisfy your hunger for power? Maharashtra neither will forgive, nor forget.”
“If Mumbai has no rule of law, then what can one say of the state of Maharashtra? The lust for power has seen the loss of safety in the state. Goons at the helm who stole to be in power will only pride itself in goondaraj,” she added in another tweet.
If Mumbai has no rule of law, then what can one say of the state of Maharashtra?
— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) February 8, 2024
The lust for power has seen the loss of safety in the state. Goons at the helm who stole to be in power will only pride itself in goondaraj.
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate questioned Maharashtra’s law and order situation, claiming that it had crumbled. “What is happening in Maharashtra? Shiv Sena (Uddhav) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar was shot dead with three bullets during Facebook Live in Dahisar, Mumbai. Abhishek is the son of Shiv Sena leader Vinod Ghosalkar who was an MLA. Just two days ago, BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad had fired 4 bullets at Eknath Shinde Sena city chief Mahesh Gaikwad at a police station in Ulhasnagar, Maharashtra. The law and order situation of this triple-engine government of Eknath Shinde - Devendra Fadnavis - Ajit Pawar has collapsed,” she said.
Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president Srinivas BV asked, “If this is not ‘Jungleraj’, then what is?”
Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, speaking about the incident, told the media, “The entire incident of UBT leader Abhishek Ghosalkar being shot dead and accused killing himself is serious and saddening… No one should politicise this incident. The investigation is underway…”
#WATCH | Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis says, "The entire incident of UBT leader Abhishek Ghosalkar being shot dead & accused killing himself is serious & saddening...No one should politicize this incident. The investigation is underway..." pic.twitter.com/igkU0XwPi0
— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2024
Firing at Shinde Sena leader in Ulhasnagar
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ganpat Gaikwad allegedly opened fire on Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) faction leader Mahesh Gaikwad on Friday night over a land dispute in Ulhasnagar, which is close to Mumbai.
According to Livemint, the incident occurred inside the Hill Line Police Station.
Five bullets struck Mahesh Gaikwad and one of his supporters, an eyewitness informed the media. Sena leader Mahesh Gaikwad was taken to Thane’s Jupiter hospital in a critical condition.
An FIR was filed and Gaikwad was arrested.
With inputs from agencies
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