After spending more than 17 years in prison, gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli walked out of Nagpur Central Jail on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. The Supreme Court granted him bail in connection with a 2007 murder case.

The apex court's decision to grant bail to the 76-year-old Gawli came after considering that he had been incarcerated for nearly 18 years. Gawli was serving a life sentence for the murder of Mumbai Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh noted that Gawli's appeal was still pending before the court. The court has scheduled his appeal for consideration in February 2026.

An official stated that Gawli completed all legal formalities of the prisons department and was released from jail around 12:30 pm. His family members, lawyer, and supporters welcomed him.

Gawli's legal team argued that since he was convicted in 2009, the 2006 policy would apply, which allowed remission on account of age and infirmity. The Maharashtra government had opposed Gawli's bail, arguing that he was facing over 46 cases, including around 10 cases of murder. They further stated that under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), convicts had to undergo imprisonment for at least 40 years for remission in terms of the 2015 policy. Gawli was booked under the MCOCA provisions. The top court granted bail to Gawli subject to the terms and conditions imposed by the trial court. It has allowed the respondents to file for cancellation of bail if Gawli violates the conditions set by the Trial Court or is found to be involved in any other offense.

Arun Gawli, also known as "Daddy," rose to prominence from Dagdi Chawl, a neighborhood in Byculla, Mumbai. He gained recognition as a gangster and later ventured into politics. Gawli formed the Akhil Bharatiya Sena and was elected as an MLA in 2004 from the Chinchpokli constituency in Mumbai. In 2006, Gawli was arrested along with others and faced trial for the murder of Jamsandekar. A sessions court in Mumbai sentenced him to life imprisonment in August 2012, along with a fine of Rs 17 lakh. Gawli challenged the Bombay High Court's verdict of December 9, 2019, which upheld his life sentence given by the trial court.