When the Mumbai Police detained accused Mauris Noronha’s bodyguard on Friday under the Arms Act, they also disclosed new information regarding the murder of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar. In relation to the murder of Abhishek Ghosalkar, the Mumbai Crime Branch has submitted two formal complaints.
Abhishek Ghosalkar, 41, the son of former Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Vinod Ghosalkar, was shot and killed on Thursday night in Borivali, a suburban Mumbai area, during a Facebook live. It is believed that the gunman was his former political rival, 47-year-old Mauris Noronha, who subsequently committed suicide. The crime branch has formed two teams to look into the situation.
In the video that went viral right away, famous politician and former corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar was tragically shot in the belly and shoulder. Mauris Noronha went on to end his own life after the assault.
Top developments in the murder case of Abhishek Ghosalkar:
- Amarendra Mishra was identified as the bodyguard whose pistol was purportedly used in the assassination of Mauris Ghosalkar. According to news agency PTI, he was taken into custody under Section 29(B) of the Arms Act, which addresses the crime of giving a weapon to someone without first making sure they are allowed to own it.
- According to the authorities, Mauris Noronha believed Abhishek Ghosalkar had falsely accused him of rape. Mauris Noronha was incarcerated for about five months.
After recording the statements of Mauris Noronha’s family members, including his wife, the police discovered that he harboured resentment towards Abhishek Ghosalkar, a Sena (UBT) supporter loyal to Uddhav Thackeray. - The alleged attacker’s wife told police that her husband, a political aspirant, believed Abhisek Ghosalkar had implicated him in the rape case.
According to PTI, the Mumbai Police are working to resolve the intricacies of this case with the guidance of joint commissioner of police Satya Narayan and deputy commissioner of police Datta Nalawade. - The wife of Amarendra Mishra claims that Noronha was adamant that he leave his handgun in the office after work hours upon employing him.
- According to a police official, there was a struggle between Mauris Noronha, who had his own political goals, and Abhishek Ghosalkar, a former corporator.
- The official stated that Mauris Noronha had repeatedly stated after his release from prison that he would not “spare” Abhishek Ghosalkar and that he had first chosen to gain Ghosalkar’s trust by extending an olive branch to him.
- In his neighbourhood, Mauris Noronha also started hanging banners honouring Abhishek Ghoslkar. At approximately 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Abhishek Ghosalkar received a call from Mauris Noronha when he was in his own office in the suburban Borivali IC Colony neighbourhood. Noronha’s office was located less than a hundred metres away on the ground floor of the “Prabhu Udyog Bhavan” building.
- The official stated that Mauris Noronha invited him to his office and informed him that he had planned to distribute sarees to women in the vicinity.
- Noronha then advised Ghosalkar to conduct a Facebook Live to declare their decision to put their differences aside and work together.
- Mauris Noronha used his bodyguard’s firearm to shoot Ghosalkar during the Facebook Live.
The police official said that he immediately ran to his office’s mezzanine floor and shot himself in the head. - “Accused Mauris stood at the door and stared at Abhishek Ghosalkar for three to four seconds after firing five shots at him. He tried to kill himself there after hitting his target, but the pistol did not discharge. He then made his way to the upper floor. Within 25 seconds, he put the bullet into the handgun above and shot himself, according to the crime division.
- Six shots were said to have been fired, five of which were directed towards Abhishek Ghosalkar and one of which was fired by Mauris himself.