Vaishnavi Hagawane’s kin accuse husband’s aide, sister of harassment in Pune dowry case

Pune: In the alleged suicide case of Vaishnavi Hagawane, her relatives have accused husband Shashank Hagwane's business associate Nilesh Chavan and sister Karishma for physically and mentally harassing her, the state prosecution told a magisterial court on Wednesday.The court of judicial magistrate first class VP Khandare extended the custodial remand of Shashank (27), mother Lata (52) and sister Karishma (31) till May 29. The court also extended the police custody of his father Rajendra (63) and brother Sushil (27) till May 31.Earlier, Bavdhan police's senior inspector Anil Vibhute produced the five accused before the court and filed a remand report to extend their custodial remand on the grounds that there was sufficient progress in investigations.Assistant public prosecutor Nitin Adagale told the court that during questioning, Vaishnavi's relatives alleged Chavan, who is on the run, and Karishma's complicity in the crime.Adagale said custodial interrogation of Rajendra and Sushil was essential to trace Chavan's whereabouts and to recover the cellphones of Lata, Karishma and Sushil. He said the phones may contain evidence — like conversations, chats and messages — against Chavan and Sushil related to the victim's harassment.The prosecutor said Rajendra and Lata need to be taken into confidence to find out why Vaishnavi's gold ornaments were pledged in a bank and to whom was the loan disbursed. The accused's questioning was essential to establish who else is involved in the crime, he added.Defence lawyer Vipul Dushing opposed the prosecution's plea to extend the custodial remand of the accused because the court had given police sufficient time for investigations and nothing incriminating was recovered. The court upheld the prosecution's plea and extended the custodial remand of the accused.Meanwhile, the state commission for women on Wednesday demanded a probe into the alleged delay in filing the chargesheet in a domestic abuse case filed by Vaishnavi's sister-in-law, Mayuri Jagtap, Sushil's wife.Vaishnavi, expelled functionary of NCP Rajendra Hagawane's daughter-in-law, allegedly hanged herself at her marital home in Bhukum on May 16.In a letter sent to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar said Vaishnavi's family has alleged Rajendra and his relatives harassed her for dowry, which included a demand for Rs2 crore to purchase land.Chakankar said a domestic abuse complaint was earlier filed with the Paud police on behalf of Mayuri Jagtap, following directions from the commission on Nov 7, 2024.The superintendent of (Pune rural police) has submitted a report that the chargesheet was not filed within 60 days. The case was later transferred to the Bavdhan police on Jan 31, she added.