Screengrab from a video showing the scene of the crime.
Credit: X/@ANI
Mumbai: In a shocking incident, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar was allegedly shot dead under mysterious circumstances by a social worker, Mauris Noronha, who ended his life by shooting himself in Mumbai.
Personal dispute is being considered as the motive behind the incident that occurred on Thursday evening, according to initial reports and investigations.
Security has been beefed up in the Mumbai suburbs to thwart any untoward incident in the wake of the shooting, which has political dimensions.
The Ghosalkar family is very close to Shiv Sena (UBT) head and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Abhishek Ghosalkar is the son of veteran politician and former MLA Vinod Ghosalkar.
The incident has been caught on camera during Facebook Live.
The Ghosalkar family is very close to the Thackeray-family and plays a prominent role in Mumbai politics and the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The Ghosakar father-son duo had been former corporators from Mumbai.
Vinod Ghosalkar has been a former MLA from Mumbai suburbs and before that was the Chairman of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). He is also a Deputy Leader of Shiv Sena (UBT).
The shots were fired by suspect Mauris Noronha, a social worker and philanthropist, who is popularly known as Mauris Bhai.
After shooting Abhishek Ghosalkar, Mauris Bhai shot himself.
Abhishek Ghosalkar and his wife Tejasvee Ghosalkar, also a former BMC Corporator, were attending the haldi-kumkum function organised by Mauris.
The reason behind the incident is not known, but reports suggested that the duo had some sort of a dispute.
Both of them are in critical condition.
Top police officials have reached the site.
During the FB Live, Abhishek Ghosalkar and Mauris Bhai were seen talking about ending their differences and working for development of Borivali IC Colony.
Thereafter the duo were to distribute sarees to ladies.
However, soon after, Mauris Bhai fired at least five rounds at Abhishek Ghosalkar.
This is the conclusion that is being drawn as the video of Mauris shooting himself is not available.
“There is a government of goons in the state. There is no law and order in the state. First the firing took place in Kalyan and now it is taking place in Mumbai,” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray said. “Maharashtra is witnessing goonda-raj,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut.
The incident comes close on the heels of the firing incident in Hill Line police station in Ulhasnagar, wherein BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad shot at Mahesh Gaikwad and Rahul Patil - leaders of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Shinde and his Deputy Chief Ministers - Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar - have not commented on the incident, so far.
The incident took place inside the office of Mauris Bhai.
Top police officials, forensic and ballistic experts are at the spot.
The exact circumstance and the sequence of events is yet to be ascertained.