Shiv Sena (UBT) leader shot dead: ‘I will humiliate him like Pushpa climax’

The chilling message that Mauris Noronha posted on social media on January 29

A few days before the killing of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar, Mauris Noronha posted a short video from the Telugu movie Pushpa along with a message: You can't defeat a man who doesn't care about pain, loss, disrespect, heartbreak & rejection. On viewing the post, on January 29, several friends called Noronha and asked him to elaborate on his message. He told them that they would soon witness an ending similar to that of the action drama.

Noronha's office in IC Colony, in the aftermath of shooting on Thursday. Pic/Anurag Ahire

Noronha, a movie buff, had created a unique persona at IC Colony. His office, where Ghosalkar was shot on Thursday, contained his photo and signboards bearing his moniker ‘Mauris Bhai'. It also served as a place where he addressed the needs of the common people. In the movie Pushpa, the titular character, played by Allu Arjun, dupes the villain into meeting him under the pretext of a friendly chat and then abandons him in the middle of the jungle without his clothes, seeking revenge for the humiliation faced by him. Noronha, who turned the gun on himself after murdering his rival, cultivated an image as a messenger of God, who was there to help those in need. Boards in his office read ‘God Bless You' and ‘With God, nothing is impossible'.

Rise and fall

Sources told to mid-day that Noronha had been living and running a business in Las Vegas, but due to COVID, he got stranded in Mumbai and was unable to return. Noronha witnessed the plight of many impoverished people who were not receiving assistance from local politicians during the pandemic. This prompted him to provide free rations and gas cylinders to the needy. He also handed out personal protective equipment kits to the cops and refuelled autorickshaws at CNG pumps.

Police outside Noronha's office in I C Colony in the immediate aftermath of Abhishek Ghosalkar's murder on Thursday. Pic/Anurag Ahire

"Mauris decided to contest the election from ward number 1 and announced his intentions on social media. Ghosalkar and his wife Tejasvee, former corporators from ward number 1, opposed Mauris's candidacy and repeatedly requested via mutual friends that he drop out of the race. This led to a cold war between the two," a source told mid-day. Sources also said that a woman filed a case of rape and cheating against Noronha, a married man, at the MHB Colony police station last year.

"Mauris had been in a long-distance relationship with the woman for 14 years. He was in Las Vegas, and upon his return to Mumbai, he was arrested by MHB Colony police at the airport. He spent three months in jail before being released. This incident severely impacted his married life, leading to his wife deciding to separate from him. Some people also believed Mauris had ties to the underworld, tarnishing his reputation. Mauris believed that Ghosalkar was behind all of this and decided to seek revenge," the source added.

Thousands of workers, supporters and well-wishers at the funeral. Pic/Satej Shinde

After their relationship soured, Ghosalkar and Noronha held several meetings and conversations over the phone through mutual friends to resolve the issue. Both parties agreed to settle, and Ghosalkar offered a settlement, but Noronha turned down the offer. Sources told mid-day that Noronha planned to kill Ghosalkar, taking inspiration from Pushpa. He first tried to make it seem that he would bury the hatchet. After gaining the former corporator's confidence, Ghosalkar believed that Noronha would back him in an upcoming election.

"Mauris sought revenge for the ruination of his married life, his arrest and the damage done to his image, believing Ghosalkar was responsible for everything," a source said. "His last post reflects his intention to die rather than be defeated by his rivals," the source added.

Who was Abhishek Ghosalkar?

Abhishek Ghosalkar was born in 1986 in Mumbai. He completed his education at Shailendra Society School and went on to do civil engineering at Vartak College. Ghosalkar took part in sports. He married Tejasvee, a dentist, in 2010 and they have two children. Ghosalkar's father Vinod is a former MLA.

Who was Mauris Noronha?

Mauris Noronha, 48, was born in Girgaon in south Mumbai and completed his education in the city. Later, he started working on a cruise ship and travelled the world. He later began playing poker and built a business around this in Las Vegas. He married Sareena Noronha in 2009 after dating for two years and the couple have a daughter who is 14. Earlier, they all lived at Kandarpada at Dahisar West but later moved to IC Colony. Noronha also started an emergency medical service endeavour with political leaders, including ambulance and medicine services. Noronha, however, faced huge losses and was forced to shut it down and focus on poker. In Las Vegas, he also started a finance business. During the pandemic, after he got stuck in India, he developed a reputation of being a local hero after he started doing social work.