A special court has granted permission to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct polygraph tests on two witnesses in the murder case of former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar. The court approved the request after both witnesses voluntarily consented to undergo the examination.
However, the court rejected the CBI's plea to conduct a polygraph test on accused Amarendra Kumar Mishra after he declined to give his consent for the procedure.
With the court's approval, witnesses Mehul Parekh and Ryan Gore will undergo polygraph examinations as part of the ongoing investigation. Special Sessions Judge Ajit Yadav said the court had personally interacted with both witnesses and verified that their consent was voluntary and provided in writing.
The court noted in its order that the witnesses were fully aware of the implications and possible consequences of the polygraph test and had agreed to undergo the procedure without any coercion.
During the hearing, the CBI argued that Mishra, Parekh and Gore possessed crucial information regarding the facts and circumstances surrounding Ghosalkar's murder. The agency contended that polygraph examinations were necessary to aid the investigation and establish the sequence of events.
Murder During Facebook Live Session
The case relates to the sensational killing of Abhishek Ghosalkar in Borivali in February 2024. Ghosalkar was shot dead during a Facebook Live session by local businessman and social worker Maurice Noronha.
According to investigators, Noronha opened fire on Ghosalkar during the live broadcast, killing him on the spot before turning the gun on himself. He allegedly used a pistol belonging to his bodyguard, Amarendra Kumar Mishra, to carry out the shooting.
Police investigations revealed that Noronha, who had political ambitions and was facing multiple criminal cases, had previously been arrested in a rape case and spent nearly five months in prison. Investigators claim that Noronha believed Ghosalkar was responsible for implicating him in the case, leading to a bitter dispute between the two.
The CBI is continuing its probe into the circumstances leading up to the murder and the role of individuals connected to the case.
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