Pune Gangland: Charges Against Arun Gawli’s Wife: Crime Branch Pursues Extortion Case
By India Crime Correspondent
PUNE, April 24, 2018
In a startling turn of events, the local crime branch of the Pune rural police has officially implicated Asha Gawli (50), a resident of Dagadi Chawl and the wife of notorious underworld figure Arun Gawli, in connection with an extortion case that was filed at the Manchar police station.
The case centers around the activities of the Gawali gang, which operated by menacing businessmen while operating under the pseudonym ‘Mummy.’ After a thorough investigation, it was unveiled that ‘Mummy’ was none other than Asha Gawli herself, who is currently evading authorities.
Strikingly, Asha had previously sought anticipatory bail from the Khed sessions court; however, the sessions court mandated that she present herself at the Manchar police station within a three-day window.
Gang Member Arrests:
Simultaneously, the Pune rural police apprehended three additional members of the gang on Thursday.
Those arrested include Mobin Mehmood Mujawar, a resident of Dagdi Chawl—where Gawli had previously resided; Suraj Rajesh Yadav, a resident of Vadgaon Peer in Ambegaon; and Bala Sudam Pathare from Chandan Nagar in Pune.
Extortion Complaint and Intimidation:
The case originated from a complaint lodged by a businessman based in Chandan Nagar. The 49-year-old complainant alleged that Mujawar and Yadav had intimidated him with death threats unless he complied with their demand for Rs 5 lakh.
Defying their menacing overtures, the complainant steadfastly refused to acquiesce, prompting the culprits to embark on a relentless campaign that involved incessant phone calls and messages, even extending to threats conveyed through one of his employees.
Subsequently, Pathare confronted the businessman at his Wagholi shop, where he was coerced into conversing with ‘Mummy.’
Legal Ramifications:
According to the complaint, the Manchar police formally registered an FIR against all four suspects, including Asha Gawali, under sections 385 (extortion), 387 (instilling fear of death or severe harm for the purpose of extortion), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
In light of the gravity of the situation, Superintendent of Police Suvez Haque decided to transfer the investigation to the crime branch, headed by Police Inspector Dayanand Gawde.
Subsequently, the arrested individuals, namely Mujawar, Yadav, and Pathare, were remanded into police custody by the Ghodegaon court.
As detailed by crime branch officials, these detained suspects are closely linked to Arun Gawli, who was arrested in 2008 and subsequently convicted in 2010 by a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court for the murder of Kamlakar Jamsandekar, a Shiv Sena member and Mumbai corporator.
Senior PI Gawade stated, “Among those arrested, it was discovered that Mujawar is Asha Gawli’s nephew and a close associate, while Yadav works at her farmhouse in Vadgaon Peer, Pune, and maintains a close friendship with Mobin. Pathare is the youth representative of the Akhil Bharatiya Sena, a political party established by Gawli.”
Ongoing Investigation and Search for Asha Gawli:
Law enforcement agencies are actively seeking two additional individuals, one of whom is Asha Gawli herself. Following the arrest of these three gang members, Asha filed an anticipatory bail application through her lawyer PB Birajdar on April 20 before the additional district court of Khed.
Additional Sessions Judge N K Brahme, while issuing the order, explicitly stated that “The maximum punishment for the offence under Section 387 is an imprisonment for seven years. The investigating officer is directed to issue a notice to Asha Gawali under Section 41 of the Criminal Procedure Code for her to appear before him.”
Gawade concluded, “We have issued a notice to Asha Gawli and asked her to be present at the Manchar police station on Tuesday. We have also booked her for extortion. While there are some cases pending against her in Mumbai, this is the first one in Pune.”
In a concerted effort to provide support to the victims, crime branch officials have extended an appeal to those affected by the extortion activities, offering assurances of protection and assistance.
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