Connect with us
Sunday,13-September-2026
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Served 14 years in prison, says Arun Gawli seeking premature release

Published

on

Incarcerated gangster-turned-politician Arun Gulab Gawli, 71, has approached the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court seeking his premature release. He made the case on the ground that he has crossed the age of 65 years and completed 14 years of life imprisonment, which entitles him to such a relief as per a January 10, 2006 government circular and a December 31, 1999 government direction. His application was heard last week by the division bench of Justices Vinay Joshi and Valmiki SA Menezes. The bench asked the Maharashtra government to file a reply by March 15. The FPJ has accessed a copy of Gawli’s plea submitted to the court.

The plea of Gawli, who was convicted for his alleged role in the murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar, argued that a subsequent government notification of December 1, 2015, which exempts those convicted under the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act), like him, from availing the benefit of remission under the 2006 notification, is not applicable in his case as he was convicted in 2012.

On March 2, 2007, Jamsandekar was shot dead at his residence in suburban Ghatkopar. According to the police’s charge-sheet, Rs30 lakh was allegedly paid to the Gawli gang for eliminating the Sena corporator over a land deal. Gawli had denied the allegations.

Gawli was arrested on May 21, 2008, while the charges against him were framed by the trial court in October 2008. On August 31, 2012, Gawli and others were convicted, inter alia, and awarded life imprisonment in the case. He has been lodged at the Nagpur central jail.

Talking to The FPJ, Gawli’s lawyer Mir Nagman Ali said, ‘‘With the petition, my client Arun Gawli is seeking his premature release on completion of his 14 years of sentence of imprisonment and 65 years of age as per the government policy of 1999 and 2006 that existed on the date of his conviction.” According to Ali, the State Government had on December 31, 1999, issued directions for release of prisoners who have completed the age of 65 years and undergone 14 years of life imprisonment. On January 10, 2006, the Home Department had further issued directions in the same regards.

Gawli’s plea read that as per his medical history, it was “clearly established that the petitioner is suffering from serious ailments” and that he is “weak and infirm”. It further said that “the petitioner’s wife” had preferred an application before the respondents seeking his premature release on the strength of the government orders and decisions pertaining to 1999 and 2006.

The plea stated that he was informed by the “Advisory Board” that his request for premature release was rejected. “However, the petitioner was not given the reason for rejection of his application,” read the plea. It said that Gawli had therefore applied under the Right To Information Act, seeking certified true copy of the decision taken by the Advisory Board. “However, the said information sought by the petitioner has not yet been supplied to the petitioner,” read the plea.

(Source: FPJ)

Maharashtra

Construction work on the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road targeted for completion by December 2028; Additional Municipal Commissioner inspects the site.

Published

on

To alleviate traffic congestion and ensure smooth, convenient travel within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a major infrastructure project known as the ‘Mumbai Coastal Road (North).’ Spanning approximately 60 kilometers—including interchanges and link roads—this mega-project aims to connect the Versova and Bhayandar areas via a coastal route. The construction work has been divided into seven packages: Packages A, B, C, D, E, F, and the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road (DBLR). Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar visited and inspected the Bhayandar interchange site (part of the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road/Package 7), located within the limits of the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation, and issued necessary instructions during the visit.

The Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road is a crucial project for the Mumbai and Mira-Bhayandar regions, and construction is currently underway. It will establish a direct and rapid road connection between Dahisar West and Bhayandar West. The total length of this road project is approximately 5.135 kilometers. The project encompasses various engineering structures, including elevated roads, roads on stilts through mangrove areas, high-level structures over creeks, elevated corridors over salt pan lands, connecting roads and interchanges for traffic distribution, and flyovers. The main elevated road of the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road project—spanning approximately 3.83 km in length and 45 meters in width—will serve as the final leg of the Mumbai Coastal Road (North). Mr. Bangar visited the site and reviewed the preliminary works. Currently, the installation of gabion walls is underway; additionally, piling (deep foundation) and the construction of pile caps are progressing. Several components of the project have already been completed, including 60 piles, 5 pile caps, 4 bridge piers, pier caps, and the ninth section of the bridge. State-of-the-art machinery is deployed at the site, and a temporary bridge system is operational for access. Work related to the ‘launching girder’ is scheduled to commence in the second week of October; Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar reviewed detailed information regarding this. Bangar issued instructions to expedite the land acquisition process required for the project and to prepare a priority list in this regard. He emphasized the need to secure cooperation from the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation and other relevant authorities. He also directed that safety-related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) be strictly adhered to, adequate barricading be installed at the site during construction, and the work be completed to high standards within the stipulated timeframe. He instructed that planning and execution be carried out with the aim of completing the project by December 2028. Deputy Commissioner (Infrastructure) Shri Girish Nikam and Deputy Chief Engineer (Mumbai Coastal Road – North) Vaibhav Gandhi were present on the occasion, accompanied by the concerned engineers and consultants.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Gutkha and scented betel nut worth approximately ₹1.18 crore seized in Mumbai; 9 arrested.

Published

on

Mumbai: Authorities have claimed the seizure of banned gutkha worth ₹1.18 crore within the jurisdiction of the Bhandup Police Station. Acting on a tip-off regarding the transportation and sale of banned gutkha and scented betel nut, the Senior Police Inspector of Bhandup Police Station dispatched Assistant Police Inspector Vinod Lad and his team to verify the information and take action. Based on the intelligence received, the team laid a trap and conducted a raid on September 12 at approximately 4:25 AM at the Municipal Corporation parking area on Village Road, Nahur. During the operation, they seized five vehicles—comprising one container truck, two tempos, one Bolero, and one pickup truck—and arrested a total of nine individuals. The seized contraband included banned scented betel nut products (such as ‘Varanasi Aashiq’ scented betel nut and scented tobacco) valued at ₹20,21,100, along with five motor vehicles from various companies valued at ₹98 lakh; the total value of the seized property amounts to ₹1,18,21,100. The five vehicles, the nine accused, and the contraband have been taken into custody, and proceedings to register a formal case at the Bhandup Police Station are currently underway. This successful and noteworthy operation was carried out under the guidance of Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police Manoj Kumar Sharma (Law and Order), Additional Commissioner of Police Dhananjay Kulkarni (East Region), Deputy Commissioner of Police Abhay Singh Deshmukh (Zone 3), and Assistant Commissioner of Police Ajay Joshi (Bhandup Division), by a team comprising Senior Police Inspector Sapna Khirsagar, Assistant Police Inspector Vinod Lad, Police Havaldars Hiralal Charande, Akesh Tirmare, and Ganesh Sonone, and Police Constables Vikas Shinde and Vijaykumar Pawar.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Accused involved in smuggling “MD” and “MDMA Plus” drugs arrested in Mumbai.

Published

on

The Mumbai Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) has claimed the arrest of a drug dealer involved in MD smuggling, charging him under Sections 8(c) and 22(c) of the NDPS Act. The accused was apprehended in Jogeshwari after being spotted under suspicious circumstances. The following items were seized from his possession:
1) Three MDMA pills weighing a total of 2.04 grams (estimated value: ₹88,000)
2) MD (Mephedrone) weighing a total of 417 grams (estimated value: ₹1,25,10,000)
3) Fifty Indian currency notes of ₹500 denomination (total cash: ₹25,000)
4) One used Apple iPhone 15 (estimated value: ₹20,000)
*The total estimated value of the seized items is ₹1,26,43,000. On September 11, the Azad Maidan Unit of the ANC (Crime Branch) was patrolling the Jogeshwari area when they received credible information that an individual was selling drugs from his residence. Acting on this tip-off, the ANC team raided the suspect’s home and recovered the aforementioned contraband. Case property recovered during the personal search of the said individual: 1) Three “MDMA tablets” weighing a total of 2.04 grams (estimated value: Rs. 88,000); 2) “MD” drug weighing 210 grams (estimated value: Rs. 6,300,000); 3) One used Apple iPhone 15 (estimated value: Rs. 20,000). Case property recovered during the search of the said individual’s residence: 4) “MD” drug weighing 207 grams (estimated value: Rs. 6,210,000); 5) Fifty Indian currency notes of Rs. 500 denomination (total cash: Rs. 25,000). The total estimated value of the recovered case property is Rs. 12,643,000. The ANC squad (Azad Maidan Unit) has arrested the said individual and registered a case (Case No. 85/2026) under Sections 8(c) and 21(c) of the NDPS Act, 1985. This successful operation was carried out by Deven Bharti (Police Commissioner, Mumbai), Anil Kumbhare (Joint Commissioner of Police – Crime), Krishnakant Upadhyay (Additional Commissioner of Police – Crime), and Poornima Chougule-Shringi (Deputy Commissioner of Police, ANC Squad, Crime Branch).

Continue Reading

Trending