Man who shot Ghosalkar had met CM Shinde four days ago: Sanjay Raut after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader shot dead

Sanjay Raut. File Pic

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday claimed that Mauris Noronha, who shot dead party leader Abhishek Ghosalkar, had met Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence only four days ago, reported news agency PTI.

Noronha ended his own life after the shocking incident which took place in suburban Dahisar in the evening and was captured in a Facebook Live video.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader shot dead: 'Shinde had invited Noronha to join his party'

In a post on X, Sanjay Raut tweeted a photograph, purportedly showing Noronha with chief minister Shinde.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member also claimed that Shinde had invited Noronha to join his party.

'Varsha', the official residence of the chief minister, has become a den of mobsters and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (who also holds the home portfolio) has failed miserably and should resign, Raut said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader shot dead: 'There is a reign of goons in Maharashtra'

Tearing into the Eknath Shinde-led NDA government in the state after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar was shot dead in Mumbai on Thursday, former minister and party leader Aaditya Thackeray said such lawlessness never prevailed under previous regimes, reported news agency ANI.

Claiming a total breakdown of law and order under the current dispensation, Aaditya Thackeray took to his official X handle to post, "Maharashtra has seen lawlessness like never before. It is shocking beyond words to see the law-and-order situation fail as it has today. Does the system exist at all to protect the common man? Does fear of the law exist? Administration has fully crumbled to being absent."

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader shot dead: Ghosalkar shot dead during a Facebook Live

Abhishek Ghosalkar, a former corporator, was shot dead during a Facebook Live by Noronha, a 'social activist', during a program at Noronha's office, police said, reported PTI,

Noronha then shot himself dead while Ghosalkar succumbed to bullet injuries at a hospital in north Mumbai, police said, reported PTI,

Ghosalkar and Noronha had "personal enmity" but the Facebook Live was to clarify that they had come together ending their bitterness for the betterment of the IC Colony area in Borivli, an official said, reported PTI,

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader shot dead: Case handed over to Mumbai Police Crime Branch

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police said it had not issued any licenced firearm to the assailant, Noronha, reported ANI.

"The weapon used in the firing incident in the Dahisar area is suspected to be an illegal firearm. No arms licence was issued to Morris by the Mumbai Police. The case involving the murder of Abhishek Ghosalkar has been handed over to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. Further investigation is underway," the Mumbai Police said in a statement, reported ANI.

The mortal remains of the deceased Shiv Sena (UBT) leader were taken to the state-run JJ Hospital for a post-mortem, reported ANI.

Abhishek was the son of Vinod Ghosalkar, a senior leader of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.

Chief Minister Shinde said a probe is being launched into the incident.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)