Gangster turned politician Arun Gawli's aide arrested

Mumbai, Mar 10: Sunil Ghate, an Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS) corporator and an associate of gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli, was today (Mar 10, 2006) arrested by the Detection Crime Branch (DCB) for his alleged involvement in demanding extortion money from a builder from South Central Mumbai in September last year.

Senior Police Inspector Pradeep Sharma said that Ghate, who was absconding since the filing of an FIR by builder Shakeel Ahmed Qureshi with Agripada police station in September last year, was arrested this morning.

The builder in his complaint had said that Gawli's associates had demanded Rs 20 lakh extortion money to allow him run his busines smoothly.

Ghate did not not attend the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) meeting thereafter, informing the authorities through a letter that he was not keeping well.

Soon after the FIR was lodged, Gawli had moved the Mazgaon court for anticipatory bail, which was granted by Additional Sessions Judge Abhay Thipsay.

However, Bombay High Court had set a side lower court's order and directed City Civil and Session Court Principal Judge R R Wachha to assign the matter to another court to hear Gawli's bail application afresh.

Ghate was also wanted in the Preeti Jain case, who is alleged to have given 'Supari' (contract) to Naresh Pardeshi, an member of the Gawli gang, to eliminate film producer Madhur Bhandarkar, whom she charged with having raped her.

He is likely to be produced in the Metropolitan Magistrate Court tomorrow for remand, Mr Sharma added.

UNI