Arun Gawli, Gangster-Turned-Politician, Walks Free on Supreme Court Bail After 17 Years

In a significant development that has drawn considerable attention, Arun Gawli, a figure once synonymous with Mumbai's underworld and later a politician, has walked out of Nagpur Central Jail. His release comes after a remarkable 17-year incarceration, following the Supreme Court's decision to grant him interim bail in the high-profile 2008 murder case of Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar.

Gawli, aged 69, was a prominent name in the city's crime landscape before transitioning into politics, even serving as an MLA.

His legal troubles intensified when he was arrested and subsequently convicted in 2012 by a Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court for Jamsandekar's murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, a verdict that marked a major victory for law enforcement against organised crime in Maharashtra.

The path to his recent release was paved by a series of legal challenges.

Gawli had approached the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court seeking premature release, citing a 2006 Maharashtra government policy. This policy allows for the early release of prisoners who have completed 14 years of their sentence and are above 65 years of age. However, his plea was initially rejected by the High Court.

Undeterred, Gawli's legal team escalated the matter to the Supreme Court.

The apex court, after careful consideration, noted that Gawli had indeed completed 14 years of his life sentence and met the age criteria stipulated by the 2006 policy. On April 15, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail, paving the way for his release.

The news of his release has sparked discussions about judicial discretion, prisoner rights, and the nuances of policies governing premature release.

Gawli, often referred to as 'Daddy' by his followers, emerged from the prison gates to a flurry of media attention and a palpable sense of curiosity among the public. His long journey from the infamous bylanes of Dagdi Chawl to the corridors of power, and then to a lengthy prison term, continues to captivate and provoke thought about justice and rehabilitation in India.

As he steps back into the outside world, the implications of his release will undoubtedly be observed closely, not just by legal experts but also by those who remember the era when his name commanded a different kind of authority in Mumbai.