Gawli appears in court,trial adjourned till Sept

August 19: Notorious gangster Arun Gawli today appeared before designated TADA Judge P K Chavare in connection with the recovery of a 9 mm ...

August 19: Notorious gangster Arun Gawli today appeared before designated TADA Judge P K Chavare in connection with the recovery of a 9 mm stengun and four live rounds from Dagdi Chawl in 1990.

Officers of the Crime Branch of the Mumbai police had raided Gawli’s hideout on July 19, 1990, and recovered the weapon. Two days later, Gawli and another dreaded criminal B S, alias Maansingh Salunke, were arrested under Sections 3 and 5 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA).

Gawli appeared at around 3 pm at the City Civil and Sessions Court amidst high profile police security. He was accompanied by Akhil Bharatiya Sena office bearer Bharat Mhatre and advocate D D Ghatge.

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The case is being tried by the TADA court for the last seven years. The Supreme Court had directed to expedite the proceedings. In due course of time, in 1994, Salunke was discharged from the case for lack of evidence.

The chargesheet was reframed in June 1994 after Salunke was discharged, leaving Gawli as the only accused in the case. As Gawli was in different jails in the state between 1990 to 1997, he was exempted from attending the trial. However, he failed to appear before the court even after being released in February this year. Today was his last chance. Judge Chavare said the evidence recorded earlier in the case would not be considered valid, as Salunke was discharged from the case. “The court will record fresh evidence in the case. The weapon recovered should also be produced before the court in the next hearing,” the judge observed.

Special public prosecutor R Salian told the court that the state wanted to amend the chargesheet to include Sec 6 of TADA, which particularly refers to possession of prohibited weapons. If proved guilty in this section, the accused has to suffer more punishment. The judge adjourned the trial till September 23, 1997.