Former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rajendra Hagawane and his son Sushil, who were on the run after being named in a dowry harassment and abetment to suicide case involving the former's daughter-in-law Vaishnavi, have been arrested by the police while trying to flee Pune on Friday.
"Rajendra Hagawane and his son Sushil were taken into custody from the Swargate area while attempting to flee the city," said Vishal Gaikwad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) of the Pimpri Chinchwad area.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who heads the NCP, said on Thursday that he had expelled the father-son duo from his party over the issue.
Hagawane's daughter-in-law, Vaishnavi (26), allegedly hanged herself on May 16 at her in-laws' house in Bavdhan. Her parents alleged 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 further, demanding 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 Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections concerning abetment to suicide and domestic violence.
Police had already arrested Vaishnavi's husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law, while her father-in-law and brother-in-law were 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," 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.
