Arun Gawli, one of the most feared figures in Mumbai’s underworld during the 1980s and 1990s, has walked free after spending 17 years in jail. The 70-year-old was released from Nagpur Central Jail on Wednesday following bail granted by the Supreme Court in the 2007 murder case of corporator Kamlakar Jamsandhekar in Asalfa, Ghatkopar (W). Arrested under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), Gawli had challenged his conviction, which was upheld by the Bombay High Court in 2019.

His release has reignited discussions about the future of Mumbai’s underworld. With Dawood Ibrahim operating from Pakistan, Chhota Rajan confined to Tihar Jail, and other gangs weakened or sidelined, many believe there is now a vacuum that Gawli could potentially fill through proxies, despite strict bail conditions restricting his activities.

Gawli, popularly known as “Daddy,” built his legacy from Dagdi Chawl, near Byculla railway station, and was one of the few dons who never fled Mumbai. His opposition to Dawood Ibrahim was legendary, with Gawli famously rejecting a compromise proposal brokered by the police, calling Dawood an “anti-national.”

The timing of his return is also significant as Mumbai gears up for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, with its massive annual budget of over ₹74,000 crore. Gawli’s Akhil Bharatiya Sena, under which he once won the Chinchpokli Assembly seat in 2004, could again influence results in nearly 70 wards of central Mumbai. Political observers suggest that parties like the BJP, keen to control the mayoral post, may even consider a tacit understanding with him.

Beyond politics, concerns are rising over extortion in Mumbai’s booming real estate sector. Historically, builders could not proceed with projects in central Mumbai without paying “donations” to Gawli’s men, especially during the textile mill redevelopment era, which proved highly lucrative for his gang.

Meanwhile, Dagdi Chawl, his stronghold and symbol of his influence, is preparing for grand Navratri celebrations this year, expected to be bigger than ever. Gawli’s return, therefore, could reshape both Mumbai’s crime and political landscape in the coming months.