Supreme Court Grants Bail to former Don Arun Gawli
The Supreme Court of India on Thursday granted bail to former gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli, who has been serving a life sentence in a 2007 murder case. The order also covers several co-accused.
The apex court noted that Gawli, now 76 years old, has already spent nearly 17 years in jail, while his appeal against conviction remains unheard. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh observed that the extraordinary delay in the appeal process was a valid ground for granting bail.
Gawli is currently lodged in Nagpur Central Jail. Jail authorities confirmed that he is likely to walk free next week once the formal order reaches the Mumbai sessions court, which had convicted him in 2012.
Vaibhav Agey, Superintendent of Nagpur Central Jail, said:
“He will be released only after we get an order from the sessions court. The trial court will act once it receives the directive from the apex court.”
Previous Bail Pleas and Court Observations
The Supreme Court’s decision comes a month after another bench, led by Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Aravind Kumar, had denied bail to Gawli, despite his advanced age. At that time, the bench stated that his conviction required the appeal process to conclude before any relief could be considered.
However, advocate Makarand Adkar, appearing for Gawli, argued this time that the unusual delay in appeal hearings violated his client’s rights. The court accepted this submission and ruled in his favor.
Gawli’s counsel Mir Nagman Ali highlighted that his client had a record of good conduct during parole and furloughs, stressing that he always adhered to prison rules and protocols.
Background of Arun Gawli’s Case
Arun Gawli, once a feared gangster in Mumbai’s underworld, later entered politics and became a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). He was convicted in 2012 under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for his role in a contract killing in 2007.
The conviction followed a trial court ruling in Mumbai, which handed him life imprisonment. Since then, Gawli has remained behind bars in Nagpur.
During his years in prison, Gawli occasionally received parole and furlough, during which, according to officials and his lawyers, he complied with all conditions and returned without incident.
What Happens Next?
With the bail order now issued, the process shifts to the Mumbai sessions court, which must receive the Supreme Court’s directive before releasing him. The procedure typically involves the verification of bail bonds and compliance with court conditions.
If cleared, Gawli is expected to walk out of jail for the first time in 17 years, marking a significant legal development in a case that has seen multiple twists and delays.
Legal experts say the decision underscores the importance of ensuring appeals are heard within reasonable timeframes. Prolonged incarceration without appeal hearings, they argue, undermines principles of justice.