Last Updated:May 23, 2025, 20:16 IST

51 tolas gold, car to Rs2 cr dowry demand: While Hagawanes, family of now-expelled NCP leader, claimed Vaishnavi died by suicide, her parents gave details of the alleged torture

Vaishnavi and Shashank Hagawane got married in a grand event.

Even as the death of Vaishnavi Hagawane, 23, daughter-in-law of former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rajendra Hagawane, has sparked public outrage in Maharashtra, murkier details about her in-laws continue to tumble out.

While the Hagawane family from Pune claimed Vaishnavi died by suicide, her parents, the Kaspates, an influential family in the state, and the other daughter-in-law of the family came out with sordid details of the alleged repeated physical assault and torture for dowry.

Here’s all we know about the case so far:

GOLD, SILVER, CAR GIVEN AS DOWRY

Vaishnavi’s uncle told a channel that Shashank wanted to elope with Vaishnavi as her parents weren’t agreeing to their marriage. The family finally gave in and got the couple married in a grand ceremony in 2023, which was attended by NCP’s Ajit Pawar.

In the FIR, Kaspate alleged that at the time of Vaishnavi’s wedding, they had given 51 tolas of gold, silver, and a Fortuner SUV to her in-laws. “Their demands started right from the time of engagement… We gave gold and several silver utensils,” Vaishnavi’s father Anil Kaspate alleged. “We wanted to give some other vehicle… However, they insisted that they want only Fortuner, and we gave it to them,” he said, adding. “During the wedding, Ajit Pawar was present. He saw the Fortuner car and questioned the Hagawane family. He asked Rajendra Hagawane whether we had given the vehicle to them or if they had demanded it from us. The keys to the vehicle were handed over by Ajit Pawar to Shashank,” said Kaspate.

THE FAIRYTALE THAT WASN’T

“However, soon after their wedding, Vaishnavi was harassed for dowry and tortured. Her husband and mother-in-law used to harass her on flimsy grounds. Her sister-in-law Karishma Hagawane even spat on her once. Her father-in-law also used to beat her up… Despite all the torture, I even touched their feet because I wanted my daughter’s marriage to last,” said the father.

Tired of the torture, she had allegedly attempted suicide even after a few months of the marriage.

The FIR further alleged that Vaishnavi’s in-laws had been abusing her, mentally and physically, asking her to bring Rs 2 crore more to purchase a property. “Vaishnavi told me about this… We conveyed our inability to pay the amount. And after this, her mental and physical torture from her in-laws increased,” he said.

He also said in the FIR that there were injury marks on Vaishnavi’s body, alleging that this suggested physical abuse, adding that he feared that his daughter had been murdered. They even raised suspicion on her character.

Vaishnavi’s father Anil Kaspate told the media, “When we saw the body of Vaishnavi, we realised that there were injury marks all over… She was murdered, and therefore, the Hagawane family should be charged with murder.”

WHAT HAPPENED ON MAY 16?

Vaishnavi was found dead at her in-laws’ house in Bhukum area on May 16. Her father, Anil Sahebrao Kaspate, then lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against her husband and in-laws at the Bavdhan police station. No suicide note was found, the police said.

According to Kaspate, on the morning of May 16, Shashank first called Vaishnavi’s relative and told him that Vaishnavi and he had a quarrel. Later in the afternoon, he again called up and told the family that Vaishnavi had ended her life and they should all come to a local hospital, he said.

“When we reached the hospital, we were shocked to see the body of Vaishnavi with severe injuries… When I asked Rajendra Hagawane and his son Shashank, they asked, ‘We had already told you to give us money; should we keep her at our home just like that?’,” said Kaspate, who comes from a prominent family in the Wakad area of Pimpri-Chinchwad.

THE ARRESTS

Vaishnavi’s husband Shashank, mother-in-law Lata, and sister-in-law Karishma, father-in-law Rajendra, and elder brother-in-law Sushil have been arrested on charges of dowry harassment and abetment to suicide.

Rajendra and Sushil, who were on the run for nearly a week, were caught in Pune’s Swargate area on Friday.

DRAMA OVER CHILD’S CUSTODY

The Hagawanes kept shifting the baby’s custody every day, and the child eventually was found in the custody of Nilesh Chavan, a friend of Shashank. Chavan allegedly threatened Vaishnavi’s relatives with a revolver when the latter visited his place on May 19 to take the child.

The 10-month-old son of late Vaishnavi Hagawane was handed over to the Kaspate family on Thursday afternoon.

“Vaishnavi’s in-laws tried their level best to keep the custody of the child. I, personally, called Pimpri-Chinchwad CP and told him to intervene. The police handed the child safely to Vaishnavi’s parents,” he said.

WHO IS NILESH CHAVAN?

Nilesh Chavan, who is booked in the Hagawane case, was also accused of torturing his wife. In 2019, a case was registered against Chavan at the Warje police station in Pune for recording an objectionable video of his wife with the help of a spy camera while having sexual intercourse with her.

THE VIRAL ‘REGRET’

In a video that has now gone viral, Vaishnavi is heard expressing regret about marrying Shashank. “My husband never felt like mine… This hurts me deeply. My in-laws have been tormenting me. I think I made a mistake in marrying Shashank, despite my own family’s opposition,” she was heard saying in a voice note she sent to her friend on WhatsApp.

OTHER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW TOO HAD COMPLAINED OF TORTURE

Mayuri Hagawane, the wife of Sushil Hagawane, too, has alleged torture by her father-in -law. “My husband supported me, but the in-laws beat him up too. Mayuri had filed an FIR on November 5, 2024, but no action was taken.

Several reports claimed that a relative of the Hagawane family was in the police force and used his influence to prevent action.

POLITICAL FURORE, AJIT PAWAR’S CLARIFICATION

Ajit Pawar’s photo from the wedding led to criticism from all quarters, but the deputy CM clarified that he did not know the details and had in fact asked if the gift was being given voluntarily. He also said that Rajendra and Shashank have been thrown out of the party and that his party didn’t need such people.

“You all invite me to weddings, and I try to attend them. But if I attend the wedding of a party worker’s son and he later mistreats his daughter-in-law, how am I to be held responsible? Did Ajit Pawar ask him to do that?” he asked.

“Immediately after learning about the incident, I called the Commissioner of Police, Pimpri-Chinchwad and asked for strict action… Three teams have been formed to trace them (Rajendra and Sushil), and I have directed police to deploy more teams if needed,” Pawar added.

Baramati MP and NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule said, “The Vaishnavi Hagavane dowry case is very painful and equally irritating. How can people behave so ruthlessly like the devil, the question arises. Looking at the wounds on her body, it is necessary to conduct an impartial investigation into whether she was murdered or committed suicide. It is clear that she was beaten inhumanely.”

We call Maharashtra a progressive state and look at how our daughters are treated.”

CM Devendra Fadnavis said the incident is a black spot on humanity. “A detailed investigation will be done in the case. The marks on her body, the audio clips, the information her parents have — all will be taken into consideration,” he added.

HUMAN RIGHTS BODY TAKES ACTION

Rupali Chakankar, who heads the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, said, “We have taken suo motu action in the matter. I have instructed the police to take strict action in the matter…”

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