Arun Gawli externed

Before making his exit, Gawli visited his mother Laxmibai, who resides in the vicinity. Accompanied by his wife Asha, two daughters and two sons, the gangster also visited the Mahadev temple, which is at the entrance to Dagdi Chawl.

Gawli, whose antipathy to the Shiv Sena is known, told the crowd which had gathered that he was beingexterned by the government in the light of next year’s Assembly elections. Moreover, he claimed, it was a ploy to expose him to rival gangsters, especially members of the Dawood Ibrahim gang.

Gawli, who will have to keep the police apprised of his whereabouts in Pune, will also have to visit the nearest police station once every eight days.

The gangster has been externed from Mumbai for two years under Section 56 A of the Bombay Police Act for his involvement in extortion, intimidation and murder. Police say there are at least three instances when victims have failed to lodge complaints for fear of reprisal. Moreover, they add, Gawli has summoned businessmen to Dagdi Chawl on several occasions, and ordered them to part with large sums of money.

Gawli’s externment follows an inquiry instituted by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Nagpada division), L M Dutraj, who submitted his report on December 30, 1998.

Gawli had challenged the externment proceedings in the Bombay High Court. However, his writpetition urging the court to quash the proceedings was rejected by Judge Vishnu Sahai on February 4. Gawli (45), who was initiated to the underworld in 1980, has since been named in at least 20 serious offences, including murder.