HC asks Maharashtra to file reply on Gawli's furlough plea

The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court today issued notice to the Maharashtra government on a petition filed by Mumbai's gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli, seeking furlough.
The Division Bench of Justices Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Vijay Deshpande sought a reply from the state government within two weeks.
Gawli, serving life imprisonment for the murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekhar, filed the plea two days back, after the prison authorities denied him furlough to meet his family.
On October 14, 2015 Gawli had written to officiating Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, Eastern Region Nagpur, Yogesh Desai requesting furlough.
His application for furlough was, however, rejected by the authority on the ground that if he is released he may commit other offences and might cause harm to the society.

Lodged in Nagpur Central prison here, Gawli was convicted and sentenced by a Sessions Court in Mumbai on August 3, 2012 along with 11 others.
Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court (MCOCA) Judge Prithviraj Chavan while pronouncing the verdict had also imposed a fine of Rs 17 lakh on Gawli, failing which he would have to undergo an additional three-year imprisonment.
Gawli was arrested by the Mumbai police under relevant sections of IPC and stringent MCOCA.