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MUMBAI: In a shocking incident of firing in the middle of a Facebook Live session on Thursday evening, former Shiv Sena (UBT) legal entity Abhishek Ghosalkar of Borivil-Dahisar was shot dead by Mauris Noronha, a local businessman who called himself a social worker and aspired to contest the civic elections, in the latter’s office in IC Colony in Borivli (West). Noronha was later found dead and is believed to have committed suicide.
Ghosalkar was rushed to Karuna Hospital in Borivli West and died after doctors’ attempts to revive him failed.
The incident comes less than a week after BJP Kalyan East MP Ganpat Gaikwad shot Shiv Sena functionary Mahesh Gaikwad and another Shiv Sainik inside a police station in Ulhasnagar.
Sources close to Ghosalkar said Mauris and Abhishek had a history of differences over several issues and tensions had been brewing over the past two years.
While Morris had been featured in the media for some humanitarian work done during the Covid-19 pandemic, in June 2022, he was arrested at the Mumbai airport after returning from the United States following a notice surveillance issued against him. The caution notice was issued in connection with a case of rape, blackmail, cheating and threats against a 48-year-old housewife amounting to Rs 88 lakh. People close to Abhishek said that he stood by the complainant in the case, which also upset Mauris as it landed him behind bars for some time.
Abhishek was the son of veteran Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vinod Ghosalkar. Vinod was an MP from Dahisar from 2009 to 2014 and was also a former corporator. The father-son duo is known for their influence in the Borivli-Dahisar region. Abhishek’s wife Tejaswi was also a former corporator of Ward Number 1, which includes parts of Borivli and Dahisar and which Abhishek had represented earlier. Mauris was preparing to contest the BMC elections from the same district.
However, despite their simmering feud, Mauris on Thursday lured Abhishek to his office on the pretext of extending a hand of friendship and invited him to a joint address on Facebook Live. In this speech, both pledged to distribute sarees and food grains to poor families in the Borivli-Dahisar belt.
The shooting happened during that Facebook Live session around 7:30 p.m. In it, Abhishek repeatedly pledged to work for the welfare of the people while Mauris echoed his words. “It may surprise people to see that Mauris and I share the stage. But we came together for the good of the people. We will do what is best for IC Colony, Kandarpada and neighboring localities,” Abhishek said on camera. “There were a lot of misunderstandings between us and between our karyakartas as well, but now we have come together… There is a lot of work to be done and this is just the beginning,” he added. After a while, Mauris got up and walked off camera, and when Abhishek finished his speech and got up to leave, bullets were fired.
The video showed that the first bullet hit Abhishek in the stomach. He clutched his stomach and stumbled. The second bullet hit his right shoulder, after which he tried to run. A total of five gunshots could be heard in the video. Police said Morris used a weapon without a license.
An eyewitness said Morris first invited Abhishek to another location on Borivli Link Road on Thursday. Subsequently, he changed his plan and called Abhishek to his IC colony office. Abhishek’s supporters were standing outside the office when they heard gunshots.
Abhishek’s post-mortem will be conducted at JJ Hospital. His funeral will take place on Friday in Borivali East. Mauris’ body was taken to Cooper Hospital.
Late Thursday evening, NCP MP (Sharadchandra Pawar) Jitendra Awhad posted and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut shared a purported photo of Mauris Noronha with CM Shinde, with Raut claiming on X that Mauris had met the CM a few days ago.
Ghosalkar was rushed to Karuna Hospital in Borivli West and died after doctors’ attempts to revive him failed.
The incident comes less than a week after BJP Kalyan East MP Ganpat Gaikwad shot Shiv Sena functionary Mahesh Gaikwad and another Shiv Sainik inside a police station in Ulhasnagar.
Sources close to Ghosalkar said Mauris and Abhishek had a history of differences over several issues and tensions had been brewing over the past two years.
While Morris had been featured in the media for some humanitarian work done during the Covid-19 pandemic, in June 2022, he was arrested at the Mumbai airport after returning from the United States following a notice surveillance issued against him. The caution notice was issued in connection with a case of rape, blackmail, cheating and threats against a 48-year-old housewife amounting to Rs 88 lakh. People close to Abhishek said that he stood by the complainant in the case, which also upset Mauris as it landed him behind bars for some time.
Abhishek was the son of veteran Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vinod Ghosalkar. Vinod was an MP from Dahisar from 2009 to 2014 and was also a former corporator. The father-son duo is known for their influence in the Borivli-Dahisar region. Abhishek’s wife Tejaswi was also a former corporator of Ward Number 1, which includes parts of Borivli and Dahisar and which Abhishek had represented earlier. Mauris was preparing to contest the BMC elections from the same district.
However, despite their simmering feud, Mauris on Thursday lured Abhishek to his office on the pretext of extending a hand of friendship and invited him to a joint address on Facebook Live. In this speech, both pledged to distribute sarees and food grains to poor families in the Borivli-Dahisar belt.
The shooting happened during that Facebook Live session around 7:30 p.m. In it, Abhishek repeatedly pledged to work for the welfare of the people while Mauris echoed his words. “It may surprise people to see that Mauris and I share the stage. But we came together for the good of the people. We will do what is best for IC Colony, Kandarpada and neighboring localities,” Abhishek said on camera. “There were a lot of misunderstandings between us and between our karyakartas as well, but now we have come together… There is a lot of work to be done and this is just the beginning,” he added. After a while, Mauris got up and walked off camera, and when Abhishek finished his speech and got up to leave, bullets were fired.
The video showed that the first bullet hit Abhishek in the stomach. He clutched his stomach and stumbled. The second bullet hit his right shoulder, after which he tried to run. A total of five gunshots could be heard in the video. Police said Morris used a weapon without a license.
An eyewitness said Morris first invited Abhishek to another location on Borivli Link Road on Thursday. Subsequently, he changed his plan and called Abhishek to his IC colony office. Abhishek’s supporters were standing outside the office when they heard gunshots.
Abhishek’s post-mortem will be conducted at JJ Hospital. His funeral will take place on Friday in Borivali East. Mauris’ body was taken to Cooper Hospital.
Late Thursday evening, NCP MP (Sharadchandra Pawar) Jitendra Awhad posted and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut shared a purported photo of Mauris Noronha with CM Shinde, with Raut claiming on X that Mauris had met the CM a few days ago.
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