Supreme Court stays Bombay High Court’s order on premature release to Gangster-turned-Politician Arun Gulab Gawli

On June 03, 2024, the Supreme Court (SC) of India stayed the order of the Bombay High Court directing the Maharashtra Government to grant premature release to gangster-turned-politician Arun Gulab Gawli. Currently, he is serving life imprisonment in the 2007 murder case of Mumbai Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar. While staying the implementation of the April 5 decision of the HC, the SC vacation bench constituting Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Sandeep Mehta said, “Issue notice to the respondent, returnable on 15.07.2024. There shall be interim stay of the impugned order, till the next date of hearing.” During the proceedings, the Senior Advocate Raja Thakre who appeared for the State of Maharashtra contended that the Bombay HC’s order should be stayed otherwise gangster-turned-politician Arun Gulab Gawli will be released on June 05 (Wednesday). He added that Arun Gawli was convicted under the provisions of the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act). After hearing the matter, the top court stayed the Bombay High Court’s order which means Arun Gawli remains in prison until further orders.