Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, calling for "immediate action to address the deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra". In the letter, Chaturvedi said, "The once-vibrant city of Mumbai, renowned for its trade and commerce, is now marred by escalating crime, violence, and gunfire".
The concerns over law and order issues in the state intensified after an incident where Mauris Noronha shot dead prominent Shiv Sena UBT leader Abhishek Ghosalkar during a Facebook Live session. The two had a history of conflicts, but during the video, they were reportedly attempting to reconcile.
Chaturvedi, in her letter, highlighted the pervasive atmosphere of fear, leaving the population trapped in a cycle of anguish with no respite. Chaturvedi also pointed out that several completed infrastructure projects in the state are in limbo, awaiting inauguration for months.
"Despite assertions by Maharashtra's Home Minister, Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, regarding the state's purportedly under control law and order situation, the litany of documented and unreported incidents starkly contradicts these claims. I implore you to urgently intervene in the deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra before irreparable harm is inflicted upon its residents," she urged Home Minister Amit Shah.
Mumbai police have since arrested Amrendra Mishra, Noronha's bodyguard, who provided the pistol used in the killing. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch charged Mishra under Arms Act Sections 29B and 30. Statements from more than eight individuals have been registered in connection with the case.
Noronha, also known as Mauris 'Bhai,' was a poker player with a positive reputation for assisting underprivileged individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. His intention to contest the upcoming corporator elections faced opposition from Abhishek Ghosalkar, leading to legal troubles for Noronha, including a rape case.
Suspecting Ghosalkar's involvement in his legal troubles, Noronha devised a plan and shot Ghosalkar multiple times before taking his own life. The incident, captured on video, occurred at Noronha's office in IC Colony in the northern suburb of Borivali (West).
The Mumbai police have registered two FIRs in the case, one for murder and another for suicide. The Crime Branch is leading the investigation into this tragic incident.
The arrest of another individual, Mehul Parikh, who was present at the scene during the shootings, has raised questions about his potential involvement or prior knowledge of the incident. The police are currently investigating Parikh's role in the tragedy.
The incident follows another recent episode in which a BJP MLA was caught on camera firing at a leader of the Eknath Shinde faction, Mahesh Gaikwad. Reacting to the series of incidents, Aaditya Thackeray, former state minister and son of Uddhav Thackeray, expressed concern about Maharashtra earning a negative reputation due to such incidents.