Gawli, who has been externed from Mumbai and is currently in Vadgaonpir near Pune, appeared before Additional Sessions judge R S Dave with police security provided by Manchar police in Pune district. He was provided police security at his own cost after Bombay High Court gave directions on an application filed by him.

The Sessions Court had earlier issued a non-bailable warrant against him in the case, but the warrant was stayed.

According to special public prosecutor Sadhana Joshi-Patil, Gawli along with Sanjay Kate, Ram Gadale, Pralhad Jadhav, Vivekanand Naik and Sunil Ghate have been named as accused in the murder of Jayant Jadhav, a videographer by profession and a close associate of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray in 1996. The accused have been charged under Sections 302 (murder), 201 (hiding evidence),109 (abetment), 120(b) (conspiracy) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, read with sections 3 and 25 of the Arms Act, she said. Three others who were also charged in the case have been killed. Sharad Bandve and Santosh Adelkar were killed in police encounters last year, and Lalit Shah was killed in a shootout.

According to the prosecution case, Jadhav was shot dead in the compound of his residence, Kamdar Park, Prabhadevi, on April 30, 1996 by Kate, Gadale and Adelkar. While escaping, the three also opened fire at Vivek Jadhav, a resident of Kamdar Park, who sustained bullet injuries. A case under Section 307 (attempt to murder) has also been registered against the three. Police investigations revealed that the conspiracy to kill Jadhav was hatched by Gawli, who was at that time lodged at Amravati Central Jail, and the others between November 16, 1995 and April 30, 1996.

Gawli was also granted exemption from appearance in the case by Judge Dave following an application by his advocatesAvinash Rasal and Ashok Patil. In his application, Gawli sought exemption from appearance as he feared a threat to his life.