Bombay HC grants furlough to Arun Gawli for meeting family

NAGPUR: Gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli, lodged in Nagpur Central Jail after being convicted for life in 2012, was on Wednesday granted furlough by the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court for meeting family members in Mumbai.
A division bench comprising Justice Vinay Deshpande and Justice Amit Borkar granted leave of 28 days as per Maharashtra Prisons (Parole and Furlough) Rules.
Earlier, his application for furlough was rejected by the DIG (Prisons) citing threat to Mumbai’s law and order situation, as he used to head a criminal gang there.
Through counsel Mir Nagman Ali, the Mumbai’s Dagdi Chawl resident had approached the HC praying for furlough which, he said, was his right to meet family members. His lawyer pointed out that the 69 years old was released on parole and furlough nine times earlier and on every occasion, he has surrendered on due date.
After hearing both the sides, the bench ruled in Gawli’s favour and ordered the respondents to release him for 28 days.
In July last year too, Gawli, who was convicted for former MLA Kamalakar Jamsandekar’s murder, was granted parole to be with his wife when she was to undergo some surgery.