Vaishnavi Hagawane Suicide Case: Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar Vow Strict Action - All You Need To Know

The shocking suicide case of former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rajendra Hagawane's daughter-in-law Vaishnavi (26) in Pune has caused uproar across the state, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar promising strict action against the culprits on Thursday.

Vaishnavi's parents lodge FIR

Vaishnavi's parents have 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, demanding that she bring Rs 2 crore to purchase land.

An FIR was registered against her husband Shashank, mother-in-law Lata, father-in-law Rajendra, sister-in-law Karishma and brother-in-law Sushil under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to abetment to suicide and domestic violence.

The police have so far arrested her husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law, while her father-in-law and brother-in-law are on the run.

'Ajit Pawar must resign'

A photo from the couple's wedding, where Ajit Pawar is seen handing over the key of an SUV, surfaced on social media, drawing criticism from all quarters.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Shalini Thackeray took to X (formerly Twitter) and demanded Pawar's resignation. She wrote, "While handing over the keys of the SUV as a dowry to the Hagawane family, did you forget that you are the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra? At a time when several dowry deaths are being reported in the state, and you have the responsibility to curb them, you are only promoting it. This is unbecoming of your position. I strongly condemn your actions. Take moral responsibility and resign. You are also responsible for Vaishnavi's death."

'How am I responsible?'

However, Pawar said his name was being dragged for no reason. "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.

At such weddings, he is often asked by the bride's father to hand over car keys or other gifts to the groom, Pawar said. "I make it a point to ask whether the gift is being given willingly or under pressure. I had even warned that if a gift was demanded, I would not spare that person," he said.

Pawar also said he had spoken to Vaishnavi's father, Anand Kaspate, and assured full support to the family.

Earlier in the day, Rajendra and his son Sushil were expelled from the party, said Pune district NCP chief Shivaji Garje in a statement.

Vaishnavi's child handed over to her parents

Vaishnavi's 10-month-old child has been handed over to her parents. The Maharashtra State Commission for Women on Thursday said, "After completing all the legal procedures, the custody of the child was handed over to Vaishnavi's parents."

Commenting on the incident, CM Devendra Fadnavis said the incident is a black spot on humanity. "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. "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.

'Mama, I made a mistake'

Vaishnavi's maternal uncle, Uttam Bahirat, recalled a conversation with her before her death, in which she said she had made a mistake by marrying against her family's wishes. He also appealed to Ajit Pawar to ensure justice for his "ladki bahin."

Shashank and his family demanded dowry, including an expensive SUV, gold, and a wristwatch worth over Rs 1 lakh, he alleged. "Her parents had booked a vehicle, but Shashank demanded a more expensive one," he said.

Vaishnavi began facing physical and mental abuse within six months of the marriage in 2023, he said, adding, "She admitted to me that she regretted her decision."

'I want divorce, I am being tortured'

Vaishnavi's WhatsApp chat with her friend has gone viral on social media. In the chat, she accused her in-laws of torturing her mentally and physically. She also expressed that she wanted to divorce her husband due to the torture.

"My husband was watching when I was being beaten, but he didn't say anything. Later, he too hit me. I have decided to divorce him. I have told this to my father. He said we will discuss," Vaishnavi told her friend.

"I feel bad because my husband, whom I married against everyone's wishes, never really became mine. I made a big mistake by marrying him. Now it has gone beyond talking and understanding. I had never imagined such a thing would happen in my life," she added.