After leaving Mumbai along with his wife Asha and children in a Tata Sierra on Monday afternoon, Gawli headed for Pune, well-placed police officials said. Gawli had not reached here till late in the evening.

While claiming that they were totally unaware about Gawli's plans, the top Pune police officials claimed that their counterparts in Mumbai had not informed them about his destination.

He may choose to stay in Pune, Aurangabad or Nagpur as his gang had set up its network in these cities while Gawli was lodged in prisons there, the police said.

Pune seems to be the best option for Gawli since it is close to Mumbai and some of the don's close relatives are from the district, they added. Meanwhile, fearing that the gang activities in the city would increase if Gawli decides to stay on here, the top brass of the city police has swung onto the action and intensified patrolling on the Mumbai-Pune highway since afternoon. A team of crime branch sleuths has been sent to Dehu Road to tail the vehicles carrying Gawli.

The police officials pointed out that Gawli had recruited several youths from Pune and its rural outskirts while he was lodged at the Yerawada jail between 1989-90 and 1994. His gang was suspected to be involved in several serious crimes committed in Pune since 1990, they added.

The officials said that the activities of Gawli's gang were likely to increase if he decided to make Pune his home. However, they assured, they were well-equipped with the emerging situation. ``We would be taking utmost precautions and an eye would be kept on Gawli's all activities,'' they added.

The Mumbai mafia, according to the police sources, turned its attention toward Pune during 1990 when Gawli and several other gangsters from the State capital were brought to the Yerawada jail.

The Mumbai underworld began concentrating more on Pune after the police crackdown that followed the serial blasts in the State capital. During that period, purchase of several properties by Mumbai gangs came to light. It was also revealed that some Pune gangs were also found to be running extortion racket on behalf of the Mumbai mafia during the period.