Arun Gawli gets bail and jail

MUMBAI, July 24: Underworld don Arun Gawli and two of his associates, held in connection with an assault on a woman scribe on July 21, were...

MUMBAI, July 24: Underworld don Arun Gawli and two of his associates, held in connection with an assault on a woman scribe on July 21, were today released on bail of Rs 10,000 each. However, Metropolitan Magistrate of Mazgaon Court, Gita Agrawal, stayed the operation of the order till July 26 to give prosecution time to move the high court against the order. Gawli and his associates till then will remain in judicial custody.

Public Prosecutor P R Namjoshi argued that Gawli’s release could prevent witnesses from coming forward to identify the accused. “His release can lead to more violence,” Namjoshi said.

The defence counsel Patil, however said Gawli could not be held in custody any longer as the complainant herself had failed to identify him at an identification parade this morning. “It’s a fabricated prosecution in blatant violation of Article 21 and 22 of the IPC. There is not a single conviction against Gawli and the other accused. Not surprisingly the Supreme Court had cut the city police to size only recently,” Patil said referring to Gawli’s release from the Amravati Jail.

Story continues below this ad

Even before an order could be passed, the prosecution told the court that another FIR has been registered against Gawli relating to his involvement in evicting a woman from Dagdi Chawl in 1990. The prosecution said a case under Section 506 (part II) of the IPC (threatening to kill) has been made.Additional commissioner of police (crime) S P S Yadav, later told Express Newsline that the prosecution will soon move the High Court. He also said that Section 506 (part II) cannot be applied in isolation, “one has to take into account the antecedents of the accused.”

Meanwhile, there was high drama when the don was being escorted to the court. Gawli’s associates, who were following the police convoy, were shocked when the van in which the don was being taken to the court suddenly broke away from the convoy and headed towards the crime branch.

The don was brought to the court amidst tight security at 2.30 pm. Residents of the Dagdi Chawl and his associates thronged the road leading to the court to catch a glimpse of Arun Gawli.