Mumbai: Shiv Sena Leader Abhishek Ghoshalkar Shot Dead During Facebook Live; Accused Commits Suicide

Mumbai, 8th February 2024: In a shocking incident on Thursday night, Abhishek Ghoshalkar, a prominent Shiv Sena leader from the Uddhav faction and former corporator, was fatally shot in Dahisar, Mumbai, during a Facebook Live discussion. The accused, identified as Mauris Bhai, also turned the weapon on himself, resulting in his death.

Abhishek, the son of former Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) MLA Vinod Ghoshalkar, was lured to Mauris’s office under the pretext of a Facebook Live session. The chilling video of the incident has since gone viral on social media, capturing the moment Mauris fired multiple rounds at Abhishek before taking his own life. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Abhishek succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Mumbai Police revealed that Mauris did not possess any arms license issued by the authorities, raising suspicions about the legality of the weapon used in the crime.

Reports suggest that there had been a previous rift between Abhishek and Mauris, which was seemingly resolved through recent negotiations. However, the motive behind the heinous act remains under investigation.

The Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) has sharply criticized the Maharashtra government in the aftermath of the incident. MP Sanjay Raut accused CM Shinde of having met the attacker, Mauris, at his residence ‘Varsha’ just four days before the tragedy occurred. Raut took to social media platform X to declare the existence of a “goonda rule” in Maharashtra, calling for the resignation of Deputy CM and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, whom he labeled as a “complete failure.”

Former minister Aditya Thackeray expressed his dismay, stating that he had met Abhishek earlier in the evening. He highlighted the growing sense of lawlessness in Maharashtra, emphasizing the lack of security for its residents.

This incident follows a series of violent events within the Shiv Sena, notably the shooting of a leader from the Shinde faction a week prior. In Ulhasnagar, BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad and an associate shot Shinde faction leader Mahesh Gaikwad inside a police station over a land dispute. Although Mahesh Gaikwad sustained six gunshot wounds, he is currently in stable condition. Three individuals, including the accused BJP MLA, were arrested on February 3 and subsequently sent to judicial custody for 14 days after a court hearing in Ulhasnagar.