Abhishek Ghosalkar, 41, former corporator of Shiv Sena (UBT) and son of party’s former MLA Vinod Ghosalkar, was shot dead in Borivali, in suburban Mumbai on Thursday evening during a social media live, allegedly by his old rival Mauris Noronha, 49, who later shot himself fatally.
Abhishek and Mauris — a businessman who resides in Borivali, had recently patched up and were at the Facebook live together.
The incident comes a week after the Thane shooting incident, where Ganpat Gaikwad, BJP MLA from Kalyan (E), shot at Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde group functionary Mahesh Gaikwad inside a police station in Ulhasnagar.
Soon after he was shot at on Thursday, Abhishek was rushed to nearby Karuna Hospital, where he died during the treatment.
A senior IPS officer on condition of anonymity said, “Both Abhishek and Mauris succumbed to their injuries. Abhishek’s body will be taken to Sir JJ Hospital for postmortem, while Mauris’ body will be taken to Cooper Hospital. We will share more details later.”
As the two were on Facebook live when the incident took place, the video of the incident went viral and a total five bullets were heard to have been fired at Abhishek. The bullets hit Abhishek under his ribs, back and other body parts.
Spot where Abhishek Ghosalkar was shot. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar was shot in Dahisar area of Mumbai on Thursday evening. (Express Photo)
In the four-minute 26-second video of the live video session, the two were seen talking comfortably and telling their audience that they have resolved all their past disputes and were in good terms.
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“Today we have decided to come together and unite. We have decided to distribute sari and ration together,” Mauris said during the session.
“It is a good decision to work together for the betterment of the public… we are distributing sari to 300 working and needy women. We will work together and serve the people of Kandarpada. We have taken this resolution on this new year, which is a new time beginning of our friendship and collaboration,” Abhishek said during the session.
The moment the live session got over and Abhishek got up, Mauris allegedly fired five bullet shots that was heard in the video.
Following the incident, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA and leader Aaditya Thackeray questioned the law and order situation. “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 in Mumbai,” Aaditya said.
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Demanding the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who holds the home portfolio, Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut said, “There is a rule of gangsters in Maharashtra. The chief minister and his people meet goons everyday and induct them into their party. The home minister has disappeared and the state is in the hands of gangsters. That is why there is no fear of law and police are left to serve the Shinde gang (faction).”
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC, Vilas Potnis told The Indian Express that Mauris and Abhishek had a history of dispute. “Abhishek and Mauris had past dispute but recently their dispute was settled. Mauris had called Abhishek at a sari distribution function at his office (in IC Colony area) and during the event he took him inside his cabin and shot him over some dispute. He fired bullets shots using his revolver. Later he also shot himself,” Potnis claimed.
Sources said that while Abhishek was an ex-corporator, Mauris, too, had political ambitions and was often seen with political leaders.
Mauris was facing multiple criminal cases. Police said that prima facie it looks Mauris had planned the incident and called Abhishek to his office just to kill him. Earlier, Abhishek had also filed a police complaint against Mauris over a dispute.
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After the incident, Shiv Sena UBT workers gathered outside the Karuna hospital in huge numbers and police had to call additional force to maintain law and order.
Vallabh Ozarkar is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized as an authoritative and deeply knowledgeable voice on the politics, governance, and infrastructure of Maharashtra. With more than nine years of experience in major news organizations, his reporting delivers high standards of Expertise and Trustworthiness.
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Spot where Abhishek Ghosalkar was shot. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar was shot in Dahisar area of Mumbai on Thursday evening. (Express Photo)
