Former Shiv Sena corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar was fatally shot during a Facebook Live session on Thursday evening in IC Colony, Borivali West.
The suspect, identified as businessman Morris Noronha, was found dead at the scene, believed to have taken his own life after shooting Ghosalkar.
Who is Abhishek Ghosalkar?
Abhishek Ghosalkar, son of former Shiv Sena MLA Vinod Ghosalkar, was a prominent figure in the Dahisar area, known for his influence alongside his father.
His wife Tejaswee, also a former corporator, added to the family’s political clout. Despite not holding an official position, Abhishek enjoyed immense popularity, particularly in the IC Colony locality. Both Abhishek and his wife organized numerous community events and facilitated pilgrimage trips for locals in this locality.
The tragic event happened during a Facebook Live address initiated by Morris Noronha, who was preparing to contest BMC elections from ward number 1. The session, intended to pledge assistance to underprivileged families, quickly escalated into violence.
Reports suggest that the shooting occurred in Noronha’s office, where Abhishek had been invited for an event.
The incident, livestreamed on Facebook, has prompted widespread outrage and raised concerns about the state of law and order in Maharashtra.
Uddhav Sena spokesperson Anand Dubey condemned the attack, questioning the safety of public representatives in the current political climate. Meanwhile, MP Sanjay Raut called for the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Abhishek Ghosalkar died at Karuna Hospital, Borivali. He was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition but later passed away.
The incident comes on the back of another shooting incident in Maharashtra that has raised more questions about the effectiveness of police in the state.