The Mumbai Police have summoned Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal for allegedly meeting jailed gangster Arun Gawli in a State-run hospital on December 28 without permission.
The police said the actor, who was essaying the role of Gawli in the under-production film Daddy , met the gangster to watch him closely and observe his mannerisms so as to play the part.
Gawli, serving a life sentence for the murder of corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar in 2008, was brought to the hospital for a routine check-up and was in judicial custody when Rampal met him.
“The summons sent last week was received by Rampal’s wife as he was out of town. He has been asked to furnish proof of the permission to visit a convict,” a police officer said. If the actor failed to reply within a reasonable time, the police might approach the court.
“The law doesn’t allow unauthorised meetings with a convict. We have demanded an explanation from the actor; if he fails to respond, we will have to move the court,” the officer said.
The police have ordered an internal inquiry to find out if the police team that escorted Gawli to the hospital committed any lapse. “The probe is to ascertain if the escort team allowed Rampal to visit Gawli without any valid permission and also if the team members were bribed or received any undue benefits for the same,” the officer said.
