Nagpur, Sep 22 (Mumbai Mirror): The Bombay High Court has refused parole to former don Arun Gawli for taking care of his wife during her surgery at a Mumbai hospital.

A division bench comprising justices Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Atul Chandurkar yesterday rejected the petition in this regard filed by Gawli observing it was unclear whether she would need surgery at all. However, the bench allowed Gawli to approach the court again if a date for the surgery was fixed.

The Maharashtra government opposed granting of parole to Gawli arguing that his wife was not very serious for which he had to visit Mumbai.

Gawli had approached the high court after his plea for parole, citing his wife's critical illness which required surgery. However, his plea was recently rejected by Divisional Commissioner Anup Kumar. Before rejecting the plea, Kumar had sought opinion from Mumbai police.

The Mumbai police informed that Gawli's return to his residence in Dagadi Chawl might affect law and order in the state capital and this led to the rejection of his plea.

Gawli is currently serving life imprisonment in Nagpur Central Prison here for murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamalakar Jamsandekar.

The former don was brought to Nagpur Central Prison in March last year.