The Return of 'Daddy': Arun Gawli Walks Free After 17 Years in Landmark Release

In a development that has sent ripples through Maharashtra's political and social landscape, Arun Gawli, the notorious gangster-turned-politician affectionately known as 'Daddy', has walked free from Nagpur Central Jail. His release comes after a grueling 17-year incarceration, stemming from his conviction in the high-profile 2008 murder case of Shiv Sena leader Kamalakar Jamsandekar.

Gawli, now 69, exited the prison gates following a directive from the Bombay High Court, which granted him premature release.

This significant legal decision was anchored in a Maharashtra government notification from January 10, 2006, which provides for the early release of prisoners aged 65 and above who have completed a specified period of their sentence. The former MLA, who had been serving a life sentence, met the criteria under this benevolent policy.

The journey to his freedom was not without legal skirmishes.

Initially, the state government had challenged the High Court's order, seeking to prevent Gawli's premature release. However, in a surprising turn of events, the state eventually withdrew its plea, paving the way for his long-awaited liberty. For years, Gawli had been lodged in the formidable confines of Nagpur Central Jail, his political past a stark contrast to his imprisoned present.

Arun Gawli's trajectory is a compelling saga of crime and politics.

Rising from the gritty chawls of Central Mumbai, he carved out a fearsome reputation as a gang leader. His transition into mainstream politics began after a series of acquittals in various criminal cases. He successfully leveraged his grassroots appeal, culminating in his election as an MLA from the Chinchpokli constituency in 2004, representing his own party, the Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS).

However, his political career was abruptly halted in 2008 when he was arrested for orchestrating the murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamalakar Jamsandekar.

In 2012, a special court convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment, marking a dramatic downfall for the man once synonymous with power in Mumbai's underworld. His release now inevitably sparks questions about his future influence, particularly given the active political involvement of his family, including his daughter Geeta Gawli, a former corporator, and his wife Asha Gawli.

As 'Daddy' steps back into the sunlight after nearly two decades, his return is poised to stir conversations across political circles and among the public, reigniting memories of a bygone era in Mumbai's complex history.