Arun Gawli Walks Free After 18 Years, ‘Daddy’ Returns from Nagpur Jail

(Report- Pankaj R Mishra)

Underworld don and former MLA Arun Gawli has been granted bail by the Supreme Court after spending nearly 18 years behind bars. Gawli was serving a life sentence in the 2007 murder case of Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar. The court observed that Gawli had already spent almost 18 years in prison while his appeal is still pending. A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh granted him relief, following which the process of his release was completed. Gawli walked out of Nagpur Central Jail to a wave of attention.

From Underworld Don to ‘Daddy’

Arun Gulab Gawli, famously known as ‘Daddy’ in Mumbai’s underworld, entered the world of crime in the 1970s. He first rose to prominence through his association with the Byculla Company and later directly challenged Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company. His stronghold, Dagdi Chawl, became a fortress of power, from where he controlled his influence across Mumbai. In 1997, he launched his political outfit ‘Akhil Bharatiya Sena’ and went on to win the Chinchpokli assembly seat in 2004. Gawli’s life represents a rare convergence of crime, power, and politics.

Life Sentence in Murder Case

In 2007, Gawli was found guilty in the murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar. In 2012, he was sentenced to life imprisonment under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and fined ₹17 lakh. The Bombay High Court upheld this verdict in 2019, following which Gawli approached the Supreme Court. Now, nearly two decades later, the apex court has granted him bail, sparking widespread discussions in Mumbai’s underworld and political circles.

Release and Rising Speculations

After his release from Nagpur Central Jail, Gawli headed towards Mumbai under tight security. During his prison term, he was granted parole and furlough on several occasions and even scored an impressive 74 out of 80 marks in the Gandhi Vichardhara exam in 2018. His return has reignited debates within Dagdi Chawl and the Mumbai underworld. While some still revere him as ‘Daddy’ and a leader, others speculate that his comeback could shift the balance in both Mumbai’s politics and its underworld dynamics.