Arun Gawli, known as the ‘Don of Dagdi Chawl’, has been released from prison after 17 years. His release from Nagpur Central Jail on Wednesday changed the entire atmosphere. As the prison gates opened around 12:30 PM, a crowd of family members, relatives, lawyers, and supporters gathered outside, chanting slogans to welcome him.

The Supreme Court had granted bail to the 76-year-old Gawli last week in the high-profile 2007 Kamalakar Jamsandekar murder case. In this case, a sessions court had sentenced him to life imprisonment in August 2012 and also imposed a fine of 17 lakh rupees. Subsequently, the Bombay High Court upheld this sentence in December 2019.

On August 28, a Supreme Court bench stated that Arun Gawli has been in jail for 17 years. His appeal is still pending. In such circumstances, the court ordered his release on bail under the conditions set by the lower court. Additional police force was deployed at the jail at the time of his release.

Gawli, former MLA from Chinchpokli

Upon exiting the jail, Arun Gawli was taken directly to Nagpur Airport under security cover, from where he departed for Mumbai. His name echoed from Dagdi Chawl to the entire Mumbai underworld. Later, he founded the ‘Akhil Bharatiya Sena’. He was also an MLA from the Chinchpokli assembly constituency from 2004 to 2009.

Meanwhile, his name surfaced in the murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamalakar Jamsandekar, and after the trial of this case, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Now, after 17 years, the big question upon his return is whether he will remain limited to his family and close supporters or if his name will once again resonate in politics.

How did Gawli become an underworld don?

After the Mumbai serial blasts, when all the major underworld dons had left the city, the field was almost empty. At that time, only two players remained: Arun Gawli and Amar Naik. A gang war started between the two over dominance. Gawli’s sharpshooter Ravindra Sawant made a deadly attack on Naik’s brother Ashwin on April 18, 1994, but he survived.

Mumbai police killed Amar Naik in an encounter on August 10, 1996. After this, Ashwin Naik was also arrested. It was from here that Gawli’s dominance over Mumbai was established. Arun Gawli, who always wore a white cap and kurta, lived in Mumbai Central’s Dagdi Chawl. The security arrangements there were so strict that even the police would not enter without permission.

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial body in the United States, established in 1789 by Article III of the U.S. Constitution. It is responsible for interpreting the Constitution and has the ultimate authority over all laws within the United States, most famously through its power of judicial review.

Nagpur Central Jail

Nagpur Central Jail is a historic prison in Maharashtra, India, originally established during the British colonial era. It is historically significant for incarcerating numerous Indian freedom fighters during the struggle for independence. The facility remains an active jail and a symbol of India’s colonial past and its fight for sovereignty.

Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court is one of India’s oldest high courts, established in 1862 during the British colonial era. Its iconic Gothic Revival building, completed in 1878, is a protected heritage site and remains a functioning seat of justice for the state of Maharashtra.

Dagdi Chawl

Dagdi Chawl is a large, historic residential chawl (tenement) in Mumbai, India, most famous for being the former residence and operational headquarters of the notorious gangster and politician Arun Gawli. It gained significant notoriety during the 1980s and 1990s as a fortress-like stronghold for Gawli’s criminal activities. Today, it remains a prominent local landmark, symbolizing a specific era in Mumbai’s underworld history.

Akhil Bharatiya Sena

The Akhil Bharatiya Sena is a regional political party in India, founded in 2014 by former members of the Shiv Sena. It is primarily active in the state of Maharashtra and focuses on issues related to regional identity and the welfare of the Marathi-speaking people.

Chinchpokli

Chinchpokli is a neighborhood in Mumbai, India, historically known for its Chinchpokli Christian Cemetery, established in the 19th century during the British colonial era. The area’s name is believed to derive from the Marathi words for “tamarind” (chinch) and “hollow” (pokali), though its exact origin is debated. Today, it is primarily a residential and commercial locality.

Mumbai

Mumbai is a major port city on India’s west coast and the financial capital of the country. Historically, it was a collection of seven islands that were ruled by indigenous empires before being ceded to the Portuguese and later to the British East India Company in the 17th century. The city is known for its vibrant film industry, Bollywood, and its iconic Gateway of India monument.

Mumbai Central

Mumbai Central is a major railway terminus and bustling transportation hub in South Mumbai, opened by the British in 1930. It is renowned for its distinctive Art Deco architecture, characterized by its streamlined design and vertical lettering on its clock tower.