Arun Gawli was born in Kopargaon in Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra. His father's name is Gulabrao. Arun Gawli and his brother Kishor (Pappa) entered Mumbai underworld in 1970s - All pics/Ashish Rane

Arun Gawli was born in Kopargaon in Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra. His father's name is Gulabrao. Arun Gawli and his brother Kishor (Pappa) entered Mumbai underworld in 1970s - All pics/Ashish Rane

Arun Gawli and his second-in-command Sunil Ghate. Both lost their jobs at Khatau Mills in Byculla and began working in the 'Byculla Company' headed by their godfather Rama Naik

Unemployed Gawli then made quick money through matka gambling and hafta-vasuli. Gawli then joined the 'Byculla Company' gang led by gangsters Rama Naik and Babu Reshim and supervised their illegal liquor dens

Unemployed Gawli then made quick money through matka gambling and hafta-vasuli. Gawli then joined the 'Byculla Company' gang led by gangsters Rama Naik and Babu Reshim and supervised their illegal liquor dens

In 1984, Rama Naik helped Dawood Ibrahim to eliminate his then arch-rival Samad Khan, the leader of the Pathan gang in Mumbai and 'Byculla Company' supported Dawood. However, Rama Naik and Dawood's aide Sharad Shetty had a fallout and in late 1988 Naik was killed in a police encounter

Arun Gawli, then took charge of the gang based in 'Dagdi Chawl'. Gawli believed that Dawood was the reason behind Rama Naik's encounter and hence a brutal gang war began between Dawood's D-Company gang and Gawli's gang from 1988 to mid 90s

He married Asha Gawli, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Maharashtra, and has two children, Mahesha and Geeta. Asha Gawli was Muslim before marriage

His daughter Geeta is a first term ABS corporator from the Chinchpokli assembly constituency. His nephew is Sachin Ahir, son of his sister Ashalata - Pic/Nimesh Dave

Gawli also got political patronage from then Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray in 1980s. However, Gawli fell out with Shiv Sena in the mid 1990s, allegedly murdered Shiv Sena men and formed his own political party, the Akhil Bharatiya Sena

Gawli also got political patronage from then Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray in 1980s. However, Gawli fell out with Shiv Sena in the mid 1990s, allegedly murdered Shiv Sena men and formed his own political party, the Akhil Bharatiya Sena

Arun Gawli's underworld operations were broken by Mumbai police who raided the premises of Dagdi Chawl several times. Gawli was arrested several times for criminal activities and was detained for long periods during trial but he was not convicted. He along with other 11 men were finally convicted for the murder of Shiv Sena leader Kamlakar Jamsandekar by a court in August 2012