The tragic death of Vaishnavi Hagawane, daughter-in-law of NCP leader Rajendra Hagawane, has gripped Maharashtra with a torrent of revelations, political fallout, and public outrage. What began as an alleged dowry harassment case has now spiraled into a sensational saga involving child custody battles, threats at gunpoint, and shocking claims of privacy invasion.
After Vaishnavi’s suspicious death on May 16, her 10-month-old son became the center of a heated custody dispute. According to the grieving Kaspate family, the infant was not with his immediate relatives but was instead kept in the custody of Nilesh Chavan, a close associate of Vaishnavi’s husband, Shashank Hagawane. When Vaishnavi’s relatives attempted to retrieve the child, they were allegedly threatened by Chavan, who brandished a revolver and refused to hand over the baby. “We went to the flat where the baby was kept. A young man with a firearm refused to hand him over and told us to leave. We were frightened and helpless,” recounted Vaishnavi’s uncle Uttam Bhairat.
Despite repeated pleas and complaints to the police, the family claims there was no immediate action, leaving them in a state of fear and desperation. The matter escalated to the highest political levels, prompting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to personally intervene and instruct police to ensure the child’s safe return to his maternal grandparents.
As the investigation deepens, new and disturbing allegations have surfaced against Nilesh Chavan. Sources close to the family suggest that Chavan allegedly installed a spy camera in the bedroom where Vaishnavi lived, raising serious concerns about privacy violations and the extent of intimidation faced by the young mother. While police have not yet confirmed these details publicly, the claims have intensified calls for a thorough probe into all aspects of Vaishnavi’s life and death.
The Hagawane case has already led to the arrest of several family members, including Vaishnavi’s husband Shashank, mother-in-law Lata, sister-in-law Karishma, and most recently, her father-in-law Rajendra and brother-in-law Sushil, who were on the run for a week before being apprehended by police. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) expelled Rajendra Hagawane in the wake of the scandal, with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar promising a fast-track trial and no political protection for the accused.
For Vaishnavi’s parents, the ordeal has been harrowing. After finally being reunited with their grandson, they expressed bittersweet relief but remain steadfast in their demand for justice. “We are grateful that our grandson is with us now. But we want the law to act firmly against everyone responsible for Vaishnavi's death—including those absconding. This should not happen to any other daughter,” said her father, Anil Kaspate.
