Mumbai gangster politician Arun Gawli released from Nagpur jail after 18 years; What was the case that got him life imprisonment?

Underworld don Arun Gawli was released on bail from Nagpur Central jail after serving close to 18 years. The now 76-year-old was imprisoned for the murder of Mumbai Shiv Sena corporator Kalamkar Jamsandkar.

What was the case about?

Kamlakar Bhaskar Jamsandekar was 46 years old when he was shot dead inside his residence and office in Asalpha village, Saki Naka. Police figured out that Jamsandekar knew his killers as he had let them inside and spoke to them for a few minutes.

Arun Gawli and 11 others were found guilty of murdering Jamsandeker. According to the charge sheet, a sum was paid to the Gawli gang to eliminate the Sena corporator over a land deal. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and was fined ₹17 lakhs, and was booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA)  in 2012. He was originally arrested in August 2006.

Arun Gulab Gawli entered the Mumbai criminal underworld along with his brother Kishor by joining a gang called Byculla Company. He later took over the Gangs leadership and even had intense competition with Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company in the 1980s and 90’s. He later went on to find The Akhil Bharatiya Sena and served as a legislator.

Why was he released?

Hearing the case, a bench of justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh observed that Gawli was behind bars for 17 years and that his appeal was still pending . The judges pointed out the old age of the former MLA as grounds for granting bail.

Gawli, who is also known in some circles as ‘daddy’, was seen at Nagpur airport a short while after his release as he prepared to leave for Mumbai.

The Supreme Court’s bail order is conditional, and the final appeal is scheduled for February 2026.

India