MARCH 31: Asha Gawli, wife of underworld don Arun Gawli, was released on bail by Additional Sessions Judge SP Kukday in connection with the Manish Shah murder case.Asha was arrested by the Malabar Hill police station earlier this month on charges of conspiracy. She has been released on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with a surety of a like amount. She has been directed not to leave Mumbai without the court's permission and has to report to the Malabar Hill police station every Tuesday.
A G Sabnis, counsel for Asha, said the statements of Asha and Arun Gawli were not admissible as recorded during the course of investigation. He alleged that the chits, seized by the police from Asha's cupboard, were "forged and fabricated", and there is no likelihood of Asha tampering with evidence.
Special Public Prosecutor AG Deshmukh submitted that Asha used to visit Gawli very frequently at Amravati Jail and that a small chit could be smuggled out very easily. He said that Asha was likely to tamper with witness andhamper ongoing investigations, as the shooters in the case have yet to be arrested.
One of the chits read: "Asha, Rajala sangun bandya kadun manish shah cha kaam laukar karun ghe (Asha, tell Raja to tell Bandya to finish off Manish Shah)''. Raja here is reportedly Raja Jadhav, while Bandya is Bandya Asvedekar, both shooters of the Gawli gang. The other chit concerned LS polls which Akhil Bharatiya Sena member Raju Philips contested.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
