Dowry death case against former NCP leader, family gets murkier even as party expels accused

Mumbai: The sensational dowry and suicide case of Pune involving the family of Rajendra Hagawane, associated with the NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has snowballed into a major issue in Maharashtra.

While Hagawane’s younger daughter-in-law Vaishnavi Hagawane died by suicide last Friday, his elder estranged daughter-in-law Mayuri Jagtap on Thursday has come forward with a harrowing account of the torture she claims to have suffered at the hands of the same family more than one-and-a-half-years ago.

While Ajit Pawar has distanced himself, he said that the matter is being probed by the police.

An FIR has been registered against the deceased's husband Shashank Hagawane, mother-in-law Lata Hagawane, father-in-law Rajendra Hagawane, sister-in-law Karishma Hagawane, and brother-in-law Sushil Hagawane.

The accused has booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) with the charges related to abetment to suicide and domestic violence.

“So far, the husband (Shashank Hagawane), mother-in-law (Lata Hagawane), and sister-in-law (Karishma Hagawane) of the victim have been arrested, while her father-in-law and brother-in-law are absconding,” officials said.

On the other hand, the NCP expelled Rajendra Hagawane and his son Susheel Hagawane from the party, days after the alleged dowry death of Vaishali Hagawane came to the fore.

The duo has been absconding since Vaishali’s death on May 16.

An FIR in the case has been registered at Bavdhan police station under Pimpri Chinchwad jurisdiction which is probing the matter.

Vaishnavi parents alleged that they had given 51 tolas (595 gm) of gold, silver and an SUV to her husband's family at the time of marriage, but the Hagawane family harassed her yet, demanding that she bring Rs 2 crore to purchase land.

“She was repeatedly tortured,” said her father Anil Kaspate.

The custody of the 10-month-old child of Vaishnavi has now been handed over to the Kaspate family.

“The custody of Vaishnavi Hagawane's child will be handed over to Vaishnavi's parents today. While three accused from the Hagawane family were arrested and two are absconding, Vaishnavi's 10-month-old child was with Rajendra Hagawane's maternal brother. Today, after completing all the legal procedures, the custody of the child will be handed over to Vaishnavi's parents,” said Maharashtra State Commission for Women, which has taken serious cognizance of the issue.

Meanwhile, Mayuri Jagtap described the Hagawane family as 'cruel'.

Hagawane knocked me, pulled my hair, and ran off with my phone in which I had recorded a video of the abuse. He even tore my clothes and humiliated me. When I tried to lodge a complaint at Paud police station, I was met with resistance. Political pressure was used to suppress my case. I was even pressured with a false complaint against my maternal side,” she alleged.

Meanwhile, a photo of Ajit Pawar handing over the key of a Toyota Fortuner to Vaishnavi and her husband - at their marriage reception - has gone viral on social media, drawing flak from all quarters.

Baramati NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule has demanded a judicial inquiry and swift justice for the victim's family.

"This incident is extremely painful. The Hagawane family is a prominent name in Mulshi and Pune. Their grandfather had done good work in the Panchayat Samiti for many decades. What has happened is shocking. Maharashtra is a progressive state, and such cases are unfortunate. If such educated families are involved in dowry deaths, then where is Maharashtra heading? And not just one, but two daughters-in-law have been affected. This matter belongs to my constituency,” she said.

In a related development, state Industry Minister and Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant visited the Kaspate family.

"Three accused have been arrested...the rest two of them will also be arrested soon," he said.