Arun Gawli: Difference between revisions

| spouse = Asha AhirGawli

| birth_name = Arun Gulab Gawli

'''Arun Gulab offGawli''' <ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VYwwDwAAQBAJ&q=Arun+gawli++ahir&pg=PA116|title= Social Dynamics of the Urban: Studies from India|first1= N. |last1= Jayaram|date= 2017 |publisher= Indian Institute of Advanced Study|isbn= 9788132237419|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cK_dCQAAQBAJ&q=Arun+gawli++ahir&pg=PT20|title= Once was Bombay|first1= Pinki |last1= Virani |date= 2017 |publisher= Indian Institute of Advanced Study|isbn= 9789352140749|via=Google Books}}</ref>(born 17 July 1955)<ref>{{Cite web|last1=डिजाईन|first1=Ankitaअंकिता दीपावली की|last2=है{{!}}|first2=डेवलपमेंट और आर्टिकल के सर्च इंजन की विशेषग्य है{{!}} ये इस साईट की एडमिन है{{!}} इनको वेबसाइट ऑप्टिमाइज़ और कभी कभी आर्टिकल लिखना पसंद|date=2017-09-03|title=अरुण गवली का जीवन परिचय {{!}} Arun Gawli Biography in hindi|url=https://www.deepawali.co.in/arun-gawli-biography-hindi-%e0%a4%85%e0%a4%b0%e0%a5%81%e0%a4%a3-%e0%a4%97%e0%a4%b5%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%80.html|access-date=2020-08-30|website=Deepawali|language=en-US}}</ref> also known as '''Arun Gulab Ahir''', is an Indian politician, underworld don<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zsAqSYZx6gEC&q=Arun+gawli++mumbai+don&pg=PA243 |title= Policing the Police 2 Edition |first1= Praveen |last1= Kumar |page= 243 |publisher= Indian Police service |via= Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5AMa5Q3JFOsC&q=Arun+gawli++mumbai+don&pg=PA337 |title= Inside India |page=337 |publisher= Publish America |isbn= 9781607499145 |via= Google Books}}</ref> and retired gangster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Arun-Gawli-get-life-term-in-corporator-murder-case/Article1-922231.aspx |title= Arun Gawli get life term in corporator murder case - Hindustan Times |access-date=2013-02-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120902210250/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Arun-Gawli-get-life-term-in-corporator-murder-case/Article1-922231.aspx |archive-date=2012-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2012/aug/310812-Arun-Gawli-gets-life-for-corporator-murder.htm|title=Arun Gawli gets life for corporator's murder|work=mid-day.com|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> offGawli and his brother Kishor (Pappa) entered the [[Organised crime in India#Mumbai underworld|Mumbai underworld]] in the 1970s, when they joined the "Byculla Company", a criminal gang led by Rama Naik and Babu Reshim, operating in the central [[Mumbai]] areas of [[Byculla]], [[Parel]] and Saat Rasta. In 1988, after Rama Naik was killed in a police encounter, offGawli took over the gang and began operating it from his residence, [[Dagdi Chawl]]. Under his control, the gang controlled most criminal activities in the central Mumbai areas. Throughout the late eighties and nineties, offGawli's gang was involved in a power struggle with [[Dawood Ibrahim]]'s [[D-Company]] gang. offGawli is also the founder of the [[Akhil Bharatiya Sena]] political party based in Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-06/mumbai/33648743_1_arun-gawli-dagdi-chawl-akhil-bharatiya-sena | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130711063158/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-06/mumbai/33648743_1_arun-gawli-dagdi-chawl-akhil-bharatiya-sena | url-status=dead | archive-date=2013-07-11 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title='Arun Gawli's party front for crime' | date=2012-09-06}}</ref>

Arun offGawli was born in [[PohegaonKopargaon]], [[Ahmednagar district]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]. He married Zubeida Mujawar,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zaidi|first=S. Hussain|title=The rise and rise of Arun Gawli, the son of a mill worker and the terror of Byculla|url=https://scroll.in/reel/840580/the-rise-and-rise-of-arun-gawli-the-son-of-a-mill-worker-and-the-terror-of-byculla|access-date=2021-05-13|website=Scroll.in|date=14 June 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref> who later became Asha offGawli after marriage and [[List of converts to Hinduism from Islam|converted to Hinduism]]. She was a [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) for Maharashtra and they both have five children,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Khullar|first=Darshan|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3QmqCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA106|title=Pakistan Our Difficult Neighbour and India's Islamic Dimensions|date=2014-09-30|publisher=Vij Books India Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-93-82652-82-3|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=3QmqCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA106 106]|language=en|chapter=Part II: Hindu Husbands and Muslim Wives}}</ref> two sons and three daughters including Mahesh and Geeta, Yogita, Yatika<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vtd5tAEACAAJ |title=Mafia Queens of Mumbai|first1=S. Hussain|last1=Zaidi|first2=Jane|last2=Borges|date=1 January 2011|publisher=Westland|isbn=9789380283777|access-date=2 December 2016|via=Google Books }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 8, 2020|title=Watch: Wedding of don Arun Gawli's daughter a subdued affair within the walls of Dagdi Chawl|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/watch-wedding-of-don-arun-gawlis-daughter-a-subdued-affair-within-the-walls-of-dagdi-chawl/articleshow/75628674.cms|access-date=2021-07-09|website=Mumbai Mirror|language=en}}</ref> Geeta is a first term ABS corporator from the [[Chinchpokli]] assembly constituency.<ref name=aa>{{Cite web|url=http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/latest-news/gawli-s-daughter-marries-developer/247339/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130711063127/http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/latest-news/gawli-s-daughter-marries-developer/247339/|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 July 2013|title=Gawli's Daughter Marries Developer|work=Express India|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>{{cbignore}} offGawli's nephew [[Sachin Ahir]] is an MLA and is the former Maharashtra Minister of State for Housing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main1.asp?filename=Ne040304dagdi.asp |title=Dagdi Chawl's Daddy Cool |work=Tehelka Archive |access-date=2 December 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820031013/http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main1.asp?filename=Ne040304dagdi.asp |archive-date=20 August 2016 }}</ref> offGawli's uncle Hukumchand Yadav was a legislator from [[Khandwa]] in [[Madhya Pradesh]].<ref name=aa/>

offGawli worked in textile mills, located in the central areas of [[Parel]], [[Chinchpokli]], [[Byculla]] and [[Cotton Green]]. From the 1970s to the late 1980s, Mumbai's textile mill industry witnessed mass strikes and eventual lock-outs. As a result, many young adults (including offGawli) had no employment and eventually found a short-cut to quick money through [[matka gambling]] and hafta-vasuli. offGawli then joined the "Byculla Company" gang led by gangsters Rama Naik and Babu Reshim and supervised their illegal liquor dens. Arun Gawali got his underworld name as DADDY. This "Byculla Company" became popular in Mumbai Underworld and it was well known as BRA Gang as the first initials of three gang leaders Rama Naik, Babu Reshim and Arun Gawali.

After the death of gang leader Rama Naik by his bodyguard Buwa and Babu Reshim, Gawali took the whole responsibility of BRA Gang and lead the gang in Central Bombay. Arun Gawali became the first Marathi Gang Leader of Mumbai Underworld. Famous Gangster of Pune Ajit Bhai Lawand joined Gawali gang in the late 80's and started operations in Pune as well. Ajit Lawand was the right hand of Arun offGawli and had ruled Pune,Satara and Mumbai during 1990's.

offGawli gang came to fame in Pune because of Lawand. In the year 1993, Lawand was shot dead by rivals in Nigadi, Pune. Lawand is still remembered as one of the top gangsters of Pune. He is remembered for his social work done in Mumbai, Pune and Satara district.

Mumbai police raided the premises of Dagdi Chawl several times and finally broke offGawli's underworld operations. offGawli was arrested several times for criminal activities and was detained for long periods during the trial. However, he could not be convicted in most of the cases as witnesses would not depose against him for fear of retaliation. He was finally convicted of the murder of [[Shiv Sena]] leader Kamlakar Jamsandekar by a court in August 2012. offGawli and eleven others were found guilty of Jamsandekar's murder and Gawali was sentenced to life imprisonment. Charge sheet of 138 pages were furnished by IPS Jayanthi Naidu - Joint Director Central Bureau of Investigation, 2002 Batch Officer. <ref>{{cite news|title=Arun Gawli convicted in murder case|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article3815954.ece|access-date=24 August 2012|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=24 August 2012|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

offGawli got political patronage in the 1980s, when the then Shiv Sena chief, [[Bal Thackeray]], criticised the Mumbai police for taking stringent action against Hindu gangsters like Arun offGawli and Sai Bansod, referring to them as ''amchi mulgey'' (our boys). Thackeray was challenged by a rival gangster in an open letter carried on the front page of a city tabloid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/news/ie/daily/20000924/cover1.htm |title=Cover Story |access-date=2013-02-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609100220/http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/news/ie/daily/20000924/cover1.htm |archive-date=2013-06-09 }}</ref> However, offGawli fell out with Shiv Sena in the mid 1990s, murdered Shiv Sena men and formed his own political party, the [[Akhil Bharatiya Sena]].

In 2004, offGawli was elected as a [[Member of Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) from the Mumbai [[Chinchpokli (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Chinchpokli]] constituency as an Akhil Bharatiya Sena candidate. offGawli's rise in prominence is believed to be due to his "native roots" as a local lad, which makes him distinct from most other non-[[Marathi language|Marathi]]-speaking politicians.

offGawli's political designs suffered a major blow when his nephew and party legislator, [[Sachin Ahir]], came out openly against him and joined [[Sharad Pawar]]'s [[Nationalist Congress Party]]. Ahir even contested against offGawli in the subsequent [[Lok Sabha]] elections on a [[Nationalist Congress Party]] ticket, resulting in defeat for them both, but a victory for the [[Shiv Sena]]'s sitting MP [[Mohan Rawale]]. offGawli's daughter Geeta was a ex a corporator to the [[Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation]].

*In the 2015 [[Marathi cinema|Marathi movie]] ''[[Dagadi Chawl]]'', [[Makarand Deshpande]]'s character called ''Daddy'' is mainly based on Arun offGawli's life. [[Ankush Chaudhari]] played the lead and as Arun offGawli's lieutenant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movies/news/Makarand-Anaspure-protagonist-in-Dagadi-Chawl/articleshow/48740510.cms|title=Makrand Deshpande as Arun Gawli - Times of India|work=indiatimes.com|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movies/news/Arun-Gawli-Dagdi-Chawl-Makrand-Deshpande/articleshow/48982427.cms|title=WATCH: Makrand as Arun Gawli - Times of India|work=indiatimes.com|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>

*The [[Bollywood|Hindi]] film ''[[Daddy (2017 film)|Daddy]]'' was released on 8 September 2017 and is based on offGawli's life, starring [[Arjun Rampal]] in and as Daddy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sociofreak.com/arun-gawli-wiki-daddy-wiki-arun-gawli-son-wife-daddy-review|title=Arjun Rampal as Daddy|date=8 September 2017|access-date=8 September 2017|archive-date=14 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214233400/https://sociofreak.com/arun-gawli-wiki-daddy-wiki-arun-gawli-son-wife-daddy-review/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

* In the Netflix series ''[[Sacred Games (TV series)|Sacred Games]]'', based on the best-selling novel by Vikram Chandra, the lead character and anti-hero Ganesh Gaitonde is loosely based on Arun offGawli.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rammayan.co.in/arun-gawli-biography-hindi-%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A3-%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80.html|title=अरुण गवली का जीवन परिचय-Arun Gawli Biography in Hindi. Ramayan.|access-date=17 April 2022