MUMBAI, INDIA – A tragic incident unfolded in Mumbai as Mauris Noronha, also known as Mauris ‘Bhai’, fatally shot Abhishek Ghosalkar, a prominent leader of Shiv Sena UBT, on a Facebook Live video. The two men, who had been in conflict, appeared to be resolving their differences during the video before the gruesome act occurred. Noronha, known for his charitable work during the COVID-19 pandemic, had returned to Mumbai from Los Angeles with intentions to contest the upcoming corporator elections, but faced opposition from Ghosalkar.
The conflict between the two escalated when Noronha was accused of rape and subsequently arrested, suspecting Ghosalkar’s involvement in his legal troubles. This suspicion may have led to the premeditated shooting of Ghosalkar before Noronha took his own life. The deadly shooting took place at Noronha’s office in IC Colony and was captured in a viral video, sparking shock and outrage.
Following the tragic incident, two FIRs were registered for murder and suicide, leading the Mumbai Police Crime Branch to take over the investigation. One person, Mehul Parikh, has been arrested in connection with the shootings, and the police are probing into whether he had any role or prior knowledge of the violence.
This disturbing event comes in the wake of another recent shooting involving a BJP MLA and a leader of the Eknath Shinde faction, highlighting a concerning trend of political violence. Former state minister Aaditya Thackeray expressed his dismay, stating that such incidents are tarnishing the reputation of Maharashtra and instilling fear in its residents.
The shocking act has raised concerns about the safety and reputation of the state, prompting a call for a thorough investigation and the need for greater security measures to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.