Supreme Court Grants Bail to Arun Gawli After 17 Years Behind Bars
New Delhi, 28 August 2025 – In a significant turn of events, the Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli, who has been serving a life sentence for the 2007 murder of Mumbai Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar. The apex court took judicial note of Gawli’s prolonged incarceration and advancing age in its decision.
A bench presided over by Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh observed, “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 court ordered his release on bail, subject to conditions already laid down by the trial court, and scheduled the final hearing of his appeal for February 2026.
Background of the Case
Arun Gawli—founder of the Akhil Bharatiya Sena and a former MLA from Mumbai’s Chinchpokli constituency (2004–2009)—was arrested in 2006 in connection with the murder of corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar. A Mumbai sessions court convicted him in August 2012, awarding life imprisonment and a fine of ₹17 lakh. A subsequent appeal to the Bombay High Court ended in a December 2019 judgment that upheld the trial court’s verdict.
Gawli’s Legacy
Once a dominant underworld figure operating out of Byculla’s Dagdi Chawl, Gawli parlayed his notoriety into politics by forming the Akhil Bharatiya Sena. He contested and won the Chinchpokli Assembly seat in 2004.
What’s Next
With bail granted, Gawli will remain out of prison while awaiting the Supreme Court’s final verdict. The February 2026 hearing promises to be a pivotal moment in a case that has spanned nearly two decades.
