The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli, who is serving a life sentence in the 2007 murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar.
A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh observed that Gawli had been behind bars for more than 17 years and three months, with his appeal still pending before the apex court.
“Admittedly, the appellant has been under incarceration for 17 years and three months. We also take note of the fact that he is 76 years old,” the bench noted while allowing his bail plea.
The court said his release would be subject to conditions set by the trial court and fixed February 2026 for the final hearing of his appeal.
Conviction & Sentencing
Arun Gawli and several co-accused were arrested in 2006 and tried for the murder of Jamsandekar, a sitting Shiv Sena corporator in Mumbai. In August 2012, a sessions court in Mumbai convicted him of the offence, awarding life imprisonment and imposing a fine of ₹17 lakh.
In December 2019, the Bombay High Court upheld the trial court’s verdict, after which Gawli approached the Supreme Court.
Political & Criminal Background
Once a feared underworld figure, Gawli rose to prominence from Dagdi Chawl in Byculla, which became synonymous with his gang’s operations in the 1980s and 1990s. He later floated his own political outfit, the Akhil Bharatiya Sena, in an attempt to enter mainstream politics.
Gawli successfully contested elections and served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from 2004 to 2009, representing Mumbai’s Chinchpokli constituency.
Despite his political career, his criminal past continued to overshadow his public image, with the Jamsandekar murder case eventually leading to his conviction.
Next Hearing In 2026
While granting bail, the apex court clarified that it would hear the matter on merits in February 2026. Until then, Gawli will remain out of prison, provided he abides by the conditions set by the trial court.
The bail marks a significant development in a case that has been pending for nearly 2 decades, involving one of Mumbai’s most infamous gangster-turned-politicians.
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