Arun Gawli Walks Free After 17 Years: Supreme Court Grants Bail in Murder Case

Arun Gawli, the enigmatic figure who once commanded Mumbai's underworld before his foray into politics, has finally stepped out of Nagpur Central Jail, concluding a remarkable 17-year period of incarceration. The gangster-turned-politician, now 69 years old, was granted bail by the Supreme Court, a decision that has significantly reverberated across legal and social circles, given his high-profile past.

Gawli's long-awaited release follows a directive from the Supreme Court, which carefully considered his advanced age and the provisions of the Maharashtra government's 'Good and Early Release' policy.

This pivotal policy, designed to offer concessions to inmates based on exemplary conduct and time served, proved instrumental in his favour, despite previous parole and bail applications being consistently denied by the Bombay High Court.

Convicted in 2012 for his role as the mastermind in the sensational 2008 murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar, Gawli had been serving a life sentence.

The case, which captivated the public, further cemented his notoriety. For over a decade and a half, Nagpur Jail served as his confinement, a stark contrast to his earlier life as a feared gang leader and later, an elected representative from the Chinchpokli assembly constituency in Mumbai.

The Supreme Court's intervention, while granting him temporary liberty, came with specific, stringent conditions.

Gawli was released on a cash bail of Rs 1 lakh and is explicitly prohibited from leaving Mumbai without first obtaining prior permission from the court. These conditions are designed to ensure his continued cooperation with judicial processes while he awaits further legal proceedings.

His family, including his daughters Geeta and Yogita, and his wife Asha, expressed profound relief and joy at his return.

For them, it marks the emotional culmination of a long and arduous wait, as they gathered outside the jail to welcome him back into their lives. Gawli's release underscores a complex chapter in India's legal and criminal narrative, highlighting the intricate interplay of law, politics, and the enduring human stories woven within the fabric of societal norms.