Arun Gawli arrested in extortion case

Gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli was on Monday arrested in Mumbai for his alleged involvement in an extortion case, in which his younger brother is also an accused.

The Akhil Bharatiya Sena Legislator from Mumbai was later produced before a local court, which sent him to police custody till May 2.

"After verifying the details of the case, we have established that the extortion demand was made on behalf of Gawli, on the basis of which we have arrested him," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria.

Gawli, clad in white kurta-pyjama and a cap, was produced by the police before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate R V Sawant-Waghule in South Mumbai, after a medical examination at a hospital.

Gawli, who had been externed from the city in the past by the police, is the MLA from the Byculla constituency in the metropolis. He also heads Akhil Bharatiya Sena, the party he floated in late 1990s.

The MLA's younger brother Vijay Ahir and his two associates were arrested on March 26 for allegedly extorting money from a city-based builder since 2005.

However, when they sought money from him again three to four months ago, the builder filed a police complaint.