From factory worker to underworld don: the political rise of Arun Gawli
In short: In the 1970s, Arun Gawli worked shifts at Mumbai's industrial mills. By the 1scale80s, he was commanding a criminal empire. This is the story of how a local 'native' gangster leveraged gang warfare and political patronage to transform into a legislator.
Arun Gawli’s trajectory began in the industrial hubs of Chinchpokli and Vikhroli, where he held roles at Simplex Mills, Godrej & Boyce, and Crompton Greaves. His entry into the criminal underworld was facilitated by his connection to the 'Byculla Company,' a Maharashtrian gang formed in 1977 by Rama Naik and Babu Reshim. Initially, Gawli and his brother Kishor operated within the orbit of gambling and liquor dens, but the gang soon became a dominant force in Central Mumbai, engaging in violent territorial disputes with rivals like the Cobra Gang and the Pathan gang.
The transition from gangster to political figure was marked by a fierce rivalry with Dawood Ibrahim. Following the 1988 death of his mentor, Rama Naik, in a police encounter—an event Gawli believed was orchestrated by Ibrahim—Gawli assumed leadership of the gang from his Dagdi Chawl residence. This period was defined by a brutal gang war that lasted until Gawli's arrest in 1994. Paradoxically, while fighting the underworld's most famous figures, Gawli found political footing. In the 1980s, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray famously defended him, referring to him and others as 'amchi mulki' (our boys).
Gawli eventually broke from the Shiv Sena to found his own party, the Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS). His 'native roots' helped him secure election as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Chinchpokli in 2004. However, his political influence faced setbacks, including a public rift with his nephew, Sachin Ahir, and a long-term legal battle. After being convicted in 2012 for the murder of Shiv Sena leader Kamlakar Jamsandekar, Gawli spent 17 years in prison before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in September 2025.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Arun Gawli
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