Probe into murder of Abhishek Ghosalkar transferred to Mumbai Crime Branch

The investigation into the sensational murder of Shiv Sena UBT leader Abhishek Ghosalkar during a Facebook Live to by a local social activist who also killed himself has been transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch an official said on Friday reported news agency PTIAbhishek Ghosalkar 40 son of former MLA Vinod Ghosalkar a loyalist of the Uddhav Thackerayled party was also a former corporatorShiv Sena UBT leader shot dead Crime Branch probe to focus on several aspectsA viral video of the incident which took place at assailant Mauris Noronhas office in IC Colony in the northern suburb of Borivali West on Thursday evening showed Ghosalkar being shot in the abdomen and shoulderThe Crime Branch probe will focus on several aspects including how Noronha got the weapon and who provided it to him if he was under the influence of alcohol at the time and the questioning of people who were present at the spot when Ghosalkar was fired upon he said reported PTIA senior police official earlier told PTI that Ghosalkar was hit by four bullets Noronha who used an illegal pistol for the crime then shot himself once he added reported PTIShiv Sena UBT leader shot dead Personal enmityGhosalkar and Noronha had personal enmity but the Facebook live was arranged to clarify that they had come together ending their bitterness for the betterment of the IC Colony area another police official said reported PTIThe MHB Colony police registered a case after the murder while Joint Commissioner of Police Law and Order Satya Narayan and Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP Datta Nalawade visited the spot for the probe reported PTILate in the night the case was transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch for further investigation a senior police official said The decision was taken considering the seriousness of the matter and the scope of the probe he said reported PTIShiv Sena UBT leader shot dead Crime Branch team visits crime sceneA team from the Crime Branch also visited the crime scene along with the local police the official said Later Joint Commissioner of Police Crime Lakhmi Gautam and DCP Crime Raj Tilak Roshan also reached the spot in connection with the investigationThe team has started the probe and is trying to gather evidence he said reported PTIThe Crime Branch will try to ascertain from where Noronha procured the pistol and who provided it to him the official said Inquiry with the people who were at the spot during the incident is being conducted he said reported PTIPolice are also examining whether Noronha was under the influence of alcohol when pumped bullets into Ghosalkar the official said adding that his blood samples have been collected reported PTIHundreds of Shiv Sena UBT supporters gathered outside Karuna Hospital in north Mumbai where Abhishek Ghosalkar was rushed to after he was fired upon and its vicinity Accordingly heavy police deployment has been kept in the area to avoid any untoward incident the official saidIn the early hours of Friday Ghosalkars body was shifted to a staterun hospital for postmortem he saidThe incident took place days after a BJP MLA was caught on camera firing at an Eknath Shinde faction leader inside a police station at UlhasnagarChief Minister Shinde said on Thursday that a probe was being launched into the latest firing incidentWith inputs from PTI