Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 3: Underworld don-turned-politician Arun Gawli was released from Nagpur Central Jail on Wednesday after the Supreme Court granted him bail. The release comes nearly 18 years after his conviction in the high-profile murder case of Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar.

Gawli, 73, had been serving a life sentence since a Mumbai sessions court convicted him in 2012 for masterminding the 2007 killing, which was linked to a political rivalry within Mumbai's civic body.

The Supreme Court's decision to grant bail was based on two primary factors: Gawli's advanced age and the fact that he had already served a substantial period—18 years—in prison.

Known as "Daddy" in his former stronghold of Dagdi Chawl, Gawli's life has been a remarkable and controversial journey from the criminal underworld to the political arena. He was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Byculla constituency in 2004. However, his political career was cut short by his criminal activities, culminating in his conviction for Jamsandekar's murder.

His release is expected to reignite public discussion about his influence on Mumbai's criminal and political landscape, closing a chapter in one of the city's most notorious crime sagas.