In the high-profile Vaishnavi Hagawane case, Pune police have arrested her father-in-law Rajendra Hagawane and brother-in-law Sushil Hagawane. The duo had been evading authorities since Vaishnavi’s tragic death, which has sparked outrage across Maharashtra and reignited urgent conversations about dowry harassment and women’s safety.
Vaishnavi Hagawane, a 24-year-old woman, was found dead under suspicious circumstances at her marital home in Pune’s Bhukum area last week. Her death, initially reported as a suicide, quickly took a darker turn when her family alleged relentless dowry harassment and physical abuse at the hands of her in-laws. The post-mortem report revealed injury marks, raising suspicions of foul play and prompting a full-scale criminal investigation.
While Vaishnavi’s husband Shashank, mother-in-law Lata, and sister-in-law Karishma were swiftly arrested, Rajendra and Sushil Hagawane went into hiding, allegedly moving between several locations to evade police. Multiple teams were deployed, and their images were circulated across police stations and transport hubs.
After days of relentless pursuit, Pune police tracked down the absconding duo late Thursday night. According to officials, they were found hiding at a relative’s home on the outskirts of the city. Both were taken into custody without incident and are now being questioned about their role in the events leading up to Vaishnavi’s death.
Vaishnavi’s family has been vocal in their demand for justice, alleging that her in-laws subjected her to ongoing mental and physical torture over dowry demands. They claim that despite giving substantial gold, silver, and a luxury SUV at the time of marriage, the Hagawane family continued to press for more, including a demand for ₹2 crore to purchase property.
Speaking to the media, Vaishnavi’s father Anil Kaspate said, “We have lost our daughter, but we will not rest until every person responsible is brought to justice. No family should ever have to face what we are going through.”
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), with which Rajendra Hagawane was affiliated, has expelled him and his son from the party. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have both assured the public of a fair and speedy investigation, emphasizing that no one will be shielded due to political connections.
With the arrest of all key accused, police are now focusing on gathering evidence, including digital records, witness statements, and forensic reports. The investigation will determine whether Vaishnavi’s death was a suicide driven by harassment or a case of murder staged as suicide.
