Abhishek Ghosalkar murder: Case probe transferred to Mumbai Crime Branch

Abhishek and Noronha, a businessman who stayed in Borivali, had recently patched up and were together at the live-streaming session on a social media platform. Prima facie, the police believe that Noronha shot Abhishek dead over their past enmity.

The MHB police station in Borivali filed a first information report (FIR) in the matter on Friday on the complaint of Lalchand Pal, 58, a kirana store owner present at the spot when the alleged incident took place. The police registered a case against Noronha alias Mauris Bhai under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and various sections of the Arms Act and the Maharashtra Police Act.

A senior police officer confirmed that the investigation was handed over to the local Crime Branch unit. The Crime Branch will examine the witnesses in the case and collect CCTV footage of Noronha’s office in IC Colony where the incident took place. It will also record statements of people close to Ghosalkar, which may include his wife, to learn about the recent developments regarding his relationship with Noronha.

The Crime Branch will also check if Noronha was in contact with any person before the incident and if there was a middleman who brokered the patch-up between Noronha and Abhishek. Noronha’s bank account details will also be scrutinised, a police source hinted.

An officer said that the Crime Branch would also check where Noronha obtained the pistol and if he had a licence for it.

While Abhishek was rushed to the nearby Karuna Hospital where he died during treatment, Noronha was declared dead at Shatabdi hospital. Abhishek’s body was taken to Sir J J Hospital for a postmortem, while Noronha’s body was taken to Cooper Hospital. The bullets hit Abhishek under his ribs, on his right thigh and other body parts.