Arun Gawli seeks police protection

Newly-elected legislator, Arun Gawli, who had faced a string of criminal cases in the past, on Saturday told the Maharashtra assembly that he expected the police to provide him protection for working as an MLA.

But the Mumbai police chief said that the former don does not need security.

"I will be working as an MLA now and hope to get police protection," Gawli said in his maiden speech in the house while congratulating Babasaheb Kupekar, who was elected unopposed as the assembly speaker.

Gawli was recently arrested along with an associate on the charges of assaulting and threatening a city-based journalist. However, they were later released on bail.

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Reacting to Gawli's request for protection, Mumbai Police Commissioner, A N Roy told reporters that Gawli had previously demanded police security stating that he has to move about in his constituency to discharge duty as a legislator.

"We studied his request and found that he does not need protection," Roy said adding the police will follow directions given by the government in this regard.