Pune: Chargesheet Filed Against 11 in Vaishnavi Hagawane Dowry Harassment and Suicide Case

Bavdhan, 15th July 2025: The Bavdhan police on Monday filed a detailed chargesheet in the Pune court against 11 accused, including the husband and in-laws of Vaishnavi Shashank Hagawane, in connection with her alleged dowry harassment and suicide.

The chargesheet, running into 1,670 pages, was submitted before First Class Judicial Magistrate Alisha Bagal, and includes concrete evidence against all the accused, according to Bavdhan police station’s Senior Inspector Anil Vibhute.

Vaishnavi Hagawane, 24, a resident near Muktai Garden in Bhukum, Mulshi, allegedly died by suicide on May 16, reportedly driven by severe mental and physical torture by her in-laws over dowry demands.

Accused Family Members Named in the Chargesheet:
Shashank Rajendra Hagawane (27) – Husband, booked for abetment to suicide.
Rajendra Tukaram Hagawane (63) – Father-in-law (expelled Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) functionary)
Lata Rajendra Hagawane (54) – Mother-in-law.
Karishma Rajendra Hagawane (31) – Sister-in-law.
Sushil Rajendra Hagawane – Brother-in-law.
All of them reside near Muktai Garden, Bhukum.

Others Accused:
Nilesh Chavan (35), Karvenagar – Accused of illegally keeping Vaishnavi’s child in custody and threatening her relatives with a pistol.
Pritam Virkumar Patil (47), Kongoli, Belgaum (Karnataka) – Accused of harboring Rajendra and Sushil Hagawane after they fled following the incident.

Mohan alias Bandu Uttamrao Bhegade (59), Vadgaon Maval
Bandu Laxman Phatak (55), Lonavala
Amol Vijay Jadhav (35) and Rahul Dashrath Jadhav (45), both from Pusegaon, Satara – All four are accused of aiding the main suspects and have been granted bail.

Judicial Proceedings and Bail Pleas
Currently, six accused, including members of the Hagawane family, are in judicial custody. Among them:
Lata Hagawane, Karishma Hagawane, and Nilesh Chavan have applied for bail in the sessions court.
Nilesh Chavan’s bail plea is scheduled for hearing on July 15.
Lata and Karishma’s applications will be heard on July 25.
Only after the hearing on these bail applications is concluded will charges be formally framed and the trial proceedings begin.

Legal Representation
Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar has been appointed to represent the state in this high-profile case.