Tejas Navale
Pune, May 22, 2025: In a chilling case that has sent shockwaves through Pune district, 26-year-old Vaishnavi Shashank Hagavane was found dead under suspicious circumstances at her residence in Bhukum village, Mulshi, around 5 pm on Friday. Vaishnavi, who had been married for just over a year, was the daughter-in-law of Rajendra Hagavane—an active member of the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction). Police suspect that what was initially claimed to be a suicide may, in fact, be a brutal dowry-related killing.
According to preliminary reports from Bavdhan Police, Vaishnavi was found hanging in her bedroom. Her husband, Shashank Hagavane, allegedly discovered the room locked from inside. Despite repeated knocks, he received no response. He then broke open the door and found Vaishnavi hanging. She was rushed to a private facility—Chellaram Hospital—where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
However, the narrative began to unravel with the findings of the medical team. The postmortem report, jointly signed by Dr. Jaydev Thackeray and Dr. H.S. Tatia, revealed that Vaishnavi had died due to strangulation, not suicide by hanging. Multiple bruises and injuries consistent with physical assault were found across her body. The report has sparked suspicions of foul play, prompting investigators to widen the scope of their probe. Police are also awaiting results from a chemical analysis to rule out the possibility of poisoning.
A formal complaint was filed by Anand Kaspate, a relative of the deceased. In his statement, he accused five members of the Hagavane family—husband Shashank, father-in-law Rajendra Hagavane, mother-in-law Lata Rajendra Hagavane, sister-in-law Karishma Rajendra Hagavane, and brother-in-law Sushil Rajendra Hagavane—of prolonged mental and physical torture in connection with dowry demands.
According to the complaint, Vaishnavi and Shashank had a love marriage on April 28, 2023, in Susgaon. Her family reportedly gave 51 tolas of gold, a Toyota Fortuner, and silver utensils as a dowry. Despite this, harassment allegedly began just a day after the wedding. In a particularly disturbing incident in August 2023, Shashank, while Vaishnavi was pregnant, allegedly assaulted her over suspicions regarding her character and threw her out of their house.
Kaspate further alleged that Shashank later demanded ₹2 crore from Vaishnavi’s father to purchase land. When the demand was not met, Vaishnavi was reportedly threatened and beaten again. In March 2025, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law allegedly assaulted her and left her at her maternal home.
Tragically, on May 16, Vaishnavi was found unresponsive and rushed to the hospital, where doctors noted bruises and red marks on her neck. Kaspate also claimed that Shashank and his father Rajendra boasted of killing Vaishnavi for not fulfilling their monetary demands.
A case under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) and other relevant provisions has been registered against all five accused. So far, Lata Hagavane and Karishma Hagavane have been arrested, while Shashank and Rajendra Hagavane are absconding.
Police confirmed that Vaishnavi was the mother of a nine-month-old child. “We are examining all angles—statements from relatives, neighbours, and forensic evidence are being collected,” said Vishal Gaikwad, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 2, Pimpri Chinchwad.
