 He died on 25 July 2015 at Nagpur.He is survived by wife Kamaltai and two sons Bhushan Gavai, a judge of the Supreme Court Of India, Rajendra Gavai, a prominent political leader and daughter Kirti.On 7 June 2009, Gavai gave the Central Bureau of Investigation permission to prosecute CPI(M) Kerala State Secretary and former Kerala Electricity Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the SNC-Lavalin case.