After the shocking suicide of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rajendra Hagawane's daughter-in-law, Vaishnavi Hagawane, and the subsequent arrest of her husband Shashank, mother-in-law Lata, and sister-in-law Karishma, the custody of her 10-month-old child will be given to her parents, the Maharashtra State Commission for Women said on Thursday.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Commission wrote, "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 were 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."
Vaishnavi's parents lodge FIR
Vaishnavi's parents have lodged a complaint against her in-laws under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to abetment to suicide and domestic violence.
In their complaint, Vaishnavi's parents alleged that during the wedding, they had given 51 tolas (595 gm) of gold, silver, and an SUV to her husband's family, but their daughter's in-laws were pressuring her to bring Rs 2 crore more to purchase land. They also claimed their daughter was physically tortured before her death and alleged she may have been murdered.
Sule demands judicial inquiry
NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule has, meanwhile, strongly reacted to the entire episode and demanded a judicial inquiry and swift justice for the victim's family.
She said, "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. Based on the information I have received from the police and media reports, there appears to be a grey area. Some say it's suicide, while others believe it's murder."
"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. A few days ago, there was a family event at their house, and I didn't attend it to convey a message because there was a complaint of domestic violence against their daughter-in-law," she added.
"If daughters-in-law are visiting police stations and court cases are going on, I cannot be seen supporting that family. The victim must get justice in this progressive Maharashtra. I am ready to fight whatever battle is needed to ensure that. Maharashtra's daughter must get justice," she asserted.
