15 February,2024 05:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mauris Noronha with Abhishek Ghosalkar before his death
Mauris Noronha's assistant Mehul Parekh and another individual named Rohit Sahu were present at the scene when Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar was shot dead during a Facebook live session, said a police official. The incident occurred at Noronha's office in IC Colony, Borivali, Mumbai, on February 8, reported PTI.
According to the police investigation, Noronha, also known as Mauris 'Bhai', committed the crime using the authorised handgun of his security, Amarendra Mishra, before killing himself. Both Parekh and Sahu were held on the day of the incident, as CCTV cameras outside Noronha's workplace recorded their presence, the report added.
"We are trying to ascertain if they had any role to play in the matter," said the official, per the PTI report.
While probing their involvement, investigators are attempting to discover whether Parekh and Sahu had any role in the incident. So far, only Mishra has been arrested under the Arms Act for giving a firearm to someone without first checking their legal entitlement, the report added.
The probe is also looking into a possible political competition between Ghosalkar and Noronha, who has his political ambitions. The Crime Branch, which is handling the matter, has recorded statements from more than 50 persons.
Before the incident, Noronha had been distressed by Ghosalkar's report to the US embassy about an alleged rape case against him, which resulted in the loss of his visa. Noronha, who had spent 84 days in jail before being given bail, voiced his desire for vengeance against Ghosalkar after his release, the PTI report stated.
The research found that Noronha learned weapon-handling tactics from YouTube and Mishra. Initially seeking to reconcile with Ghosalkar via a Facebook Live session, the scenario quickly became tragic, resulting in Ghosalkar's death.
Who is Mauris Noronha?
Noronha, 48, was born in south Mumbai's Girgaon district and finished his education there. He then worked on a cruise ship and visited the world. Mauris, who later in life began playing poker, had also established a poker-related firm in Las Vegas. He married his wife Sareena in 2009 following a two-year courtship, and they have a 14-year-old daughter.
