After his release, Gawli was escorted out of Nagpur Central Jail under tight security.
Gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli walked out of Nagpur Central Jail on Wednesday after spending more than 17 years behind bars. The 76-year-old, once feared don and MLA, was serving life imprisonment for the 2007 murder of Mumbai Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar. The Supreme Court granted him bail, taking note of his old age and the long years already spent in prison.
A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh said, "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."
After his release, Gawli was escorted out of Nagpur Central Jail under tight security. His family, including his brother, was present outside the prison. He later traveled to Mumbai, where his stronghold Dagdi Chawl still carries his name and influence.
According to People Ai, Arun Gawli’s estimated net worth is around $675,000 USD (5,94,29,025.00 Indian Rupees) as of August 2025, while his exact financial details remain unclear, much of his wealth is believed to come from his political and underworld influence in earlier years.
His daughter Yogita Gawli married Marathi actor Akshay Waghmare in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown. She is an advocate by profession. Another daughter, Geeta Gawli, is also active in politics.
Gawli’s only son is Mahesh Gawli. Once, Gawli had hopes that Mahesh would become a pilot, but reports say he could not clear his SSC exams. In 2015, Mahesh got married, and Gawli was granted parole to attend the ceremony.
Arun Gawli’s wife is Asha Gawli, originally born as Zubeida Mujawar. She converted to Hinduism after marrying him and became active in politics. She even served as vice-president of Gawli’s party, the Akhil Bharatiya Sena.
Arun Gawli was born in a Hindu family in Maharashtra and continues to follow Hinduism, while his wife also converted to the same religion.
Arun Gawli is alive and has been released on bail in 2025. At 76, he remains a significant figure in Mumbai’s criminal and political history. His release marks an important chapter in his long legal saga.
Arun Gawli is popularly known as “Daddy” in Mumbai’s Dagdi Chawl, his long-time base in Byculla. Arun Gawli helped locals with jobs, housing, and financial support, so that local residents gave him this title.
The 2017 Bollywood film Daddy, starring Arjun Rampal, depicted his life and rise as a don-turned-politician.
Dagdi Chawl is located in Byculla, South Mumbai, and served as Gawli;s home and gang headquarters in the 1980s-1990s.
He began under Karim Lala and Dawood Ibrahim but later split from Dawood's D-Company, leading to violent gang wars.
Dawood Ibrahim's men killed Babu Reshim in 1990 to weaken Arun Gawli;s stronghold in central Mumbai.
Gawli’s most trusted aide was Ramakant Jadhav, better known as Rama Naik. After Rama Naik was killed in a police encounter in 1987, Gawli took over much of his operations. Dagdi Chawl then became a fortress-like hub for his activities, making him one of Mumbai’s most feared dons.
Gawli was arrested in 2006 for his role in Jamsandekar’s murder. Investigations revealed it was a contract killing allegedly ordered by his gang. In 2012, a special MCOCA court convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The Bombay High Court later upheld the verdict.
Gawli entered the Mumbai underworld in the late 1970s. He worked with the Byculla Company, led by Bada Rajan and later Arun Naik. After Bada Rajan’s death, Gawli came closer to Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company.
ALSO READ: Arun Gawli Released After 18 Years: The Real-Life ‘Daddy’ Who Inspired a Bollywood Film
However, their relationship turned hostile in the late 1980s, and led to violent gang wars between Gawli’s men and Dawood’s men. During these conflicts, Gawli lost close aides, including Babu Reshim in 1990, who was killed by Dawood’s men.
In 1997, Gawli formed the Akhil Bharatiya Sena. He entered politics seriously and won the 2004 elections from Mumbai’s Chinchpokli constituency, serving as an MLA until 2009. His political role further strengthened his image as both a don and a people’s leader.
Arun Gawli’s story reflects the blurred line between crime and politics in Mumbai. From being Dawood Ibrahim’s rival to becoming “Daddy” of Dagdi Chawl and later an MLA, Gawli’s journey has been full of power, fear, and controversy. His release after 17 years has once again brought him into the spotlight.
ALSO READ: Who is Arun Gawli? Once a Dreaded Don, Now Out on Bail After 18 Years
