A video of Maharashtra State Commission for Women Chairperson Rupali Chakankar walking out of a live television debate has gone viral on social media.
The show was about the shocking suicide case of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rajendra Hagawane's daughter-in-law, Vaishnavi Hagawane, in Pune.
The video, shared on X (formerly Twitter) by NCP-SP leader Rohini Khadse, shows Chakankar apparently disconnecting the video call when the former was asked to speak by anchor Prasanna Joshi. “Chakankar said that after speaking to Vaishnavi's parents, you should have immediately asked me to speak. I am upset because you didn't ask me to speak. Who behaves like this? Maharashtra State Commission for Women Chairperson gets upset? Rupali Chakankar gets upset? Is this a joke?” the anchor was heard saying.
However, after a few hours, Joshi took to X and stated that Chakankar told him that, at the time of the show, she was travelling and there was a range issue. “Since she could not attend the programme, she has sent her statement in video format,” he added.
In the video, Chakankar said that the Maharashtra State Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance of the unfortunate incident and directed the Pune Police to take action.
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.
An FIR has been registered against her husband Shashank, mother-in-law Lata, father-in-law Rajendra, sister-in-law Karishma, and brother-in-law Sushil. So far, the husband, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law of the victim have been arrested, while her father-in-law and brother-in-law are absconding.
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.
