Nagpur, India: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has approved a 28-day furlough for underworld don Arun Gulab Gawli. This decision comes after Gawli challenged the rejection of his furlough application by the DIG Prisons, East Zone.

Gawli, serving a sentence under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), faced opposition from the government, which argued that his release could create law and order problems. Officials also linked the furlough request to his daughter's political ambitions and pointed to new rules preventing furlough for MCOCA convicts.

In court, Gawli’s lawyers argued that he had been granted furlough in the past without any issues and that the new rules were introduced after his application had been rejected.

A division bench of Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Vrushali Joshi ruled in Gawli’s favour, allowing his release under strict conditions. Advocate Mir Nagman Ali represented Gawli in the case.

The furlough provides temporary relief for Gawli while ensuring safeguards are in place to maintain public order.