MCOCA Court ruling lays bare Arun Gawli’s crime syndicate

He was committing organised crime for gaining undue economic benefits: MCOCA Court

A file photo of Arun Gawli.

Gangster Arun Gawli, who was recently sentenced to life imprisonment in the murder case of former corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar, has been identified as the kingpin of a sprawling crime syndicate.

Referring to a confessional statement on extorted money being sent to Arun Gawli, a Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Court has observed in its order, “This is how, it appears that the organised crime syndicate of Arun Gawli was involved in continuing unlawful activities and was committing organised crime for gaining undue economic benefits by extorting builders, cable operators etc.”

A copy of the order is with

The Hindu .

Gawli, who goes by his underworld alias ‘Daddy,’ has a string of cases pending against him but the murder case verdict is his first conviction.

Discussing the activities of the other accused in the case, the court has noted, “It is crystal-clear that there is an involvement of the organised crime syndicate headed by Arun Gawli which commits organised crime from Dagdi Chawl [Gawli’s residence and fortress].”

The court, however, did not consider the Jamsandekar murder case as the rarest of the rare. It, therefore, ruled against the death sentenced as pressed for by the prosecution. It, however, remarked that “there was no doubt about Gawli’s indulgence in various crimes in the past.”

The verdict also delineates how Gawli’s political outfit Akhil Bharatiya Sena served as a front for his criminal activities and extortion racket.

Citing from a confession, the order states: “The office-bearers of the Akhil Bharatiya Sena and its workers used to supply information about the construction of new structures and other matters to Gawli, including the names of builders. Thereafter, the builders were summoned in a special room meant for chanting bhajans and there Gawli along with his henchmen used to extort money.”

As per the case judgment, the conspiracy for Jamsandekar’s murder, the motive behind which was political and business rivalry, started way back in 2006 when the weapon — a country-made revolver — was readied.

Jamsandekar was murdered in 2007, when Gawli was a sting MLA. He was arrested in 2008. Last Friday, he along with ten others was given life imprisonment under the stringent MCOCA. He was further sentenced for murder, extortion and criminal conspiracy.