Gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli was awarded life imprisonment by a MCOCA court in Mumbai today in connection with the murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar four years back. Apart from Gawli, 11 others who had hatched a conspiracy to kill Jamsandekar were convicted last week.

Jamsandekar was shot dead in March 2008 at his residence in suburban Ghatkopar. Gawli was arrested on May 21, 2008 and has been in custody since then. The charge sheet said that a sum of 30 lakh rupees was paid to the Gawli gang for the job.

The trial had commenced from October 2010. During the previous hearing, the court had said that it had been proved that Gawli was a member of organised crime syndicate and was engaged in extortion.